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Conservation & Collections Care News

Author: Abigail Evans

I am a senior at the University of Iowa majoring in English and Creative Writing. In college I have been involved in English Society, Hawkeye Marching Band, and University Band. I am pursuing Departmental Honors and working on a creative nonfiction honors thesis.
Seven IMALERT members pause for a group photo in front of the Pacific Junction Railroad Museum.
May 02 2019

IMALERT members assist in disaster recovery

Posted on May 2, 2019May 6, 2019 by Abigail Evans

By Nancy E Kraft

Seven IMALERT members pause for a group photo in front of the Pacific Junction Railroad Museum.
IMALERT members take a group photo in front of the Pacific Junction Railroad Museum.

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Cindy Opitz holds binder over a bucket of water and uses a brush to clean the pages.
Cindy Opitz cleans a flood-damaged binder
Chairs and various objects covered in mud from the flood waters sit in sorted piles.
Flood-damaged collections sorted by material type

 

 

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On Monday, April 22, Iowa Museums, Archives, Libraries Emergency Response Team (IMALERT) members assisted with the retrieval and salvage of collection items in the flood-damaged Pacific Junction Railroad Museum (PJRM). We could not have had a more “perfect” flood recovery experience. The Mills County Historical Museum Director Steve Hunt from nearby Glenwood had everything well organized.

While the building was still underwater, he assembled a team of a few people available to bring their trucks and assist with rescue efforts. He also obtained supplies and cleared an area in a Mills County Historical Museum building where collections could be stored. Once the water receded, he worked with others to clear out the debris (fallen ceiling tiles, upended office furniture, etc.) so we would be able to get to the collections. He retrieved as many of the photographs as he could and a couple uniforms from the PJRM and City Hall, rinsed and laid them out. He also gave us the go ahead to provide assistance on April 22.

Team members from the University of Iowa – Nancy E Kraft, Cindy Opitz, Tiffany Adrain – joined team member Joy Stortvedt in Shenandoah and caravanned to Glenwood to join Steve and his team. Steve led the way to Pacific Junction as there was only one way in and it was hard to find. We loaded the collections into the trucks and hauled everything to Glenwood where we unloaded, sorted, and laid out the collections by material type. We spent the rest of the day rinsing material as needed. There were several notebooks of research material. Although we think the research material is on a server, we rinsed, wrapped, and stored the notebooks in a freezer. Once Steve has time, he’ll check the online files to identify those that really need to be salvaged

Everything is now stabilized. Material can be worked on as time and resources are available. We’re discussing a possible return for further assistance. The IMALERT has a 24/7 hotline that anyone can call for advice and assistance with collections damaged by disaster large and small. The number is 319-384-3673.

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Posted in Disaster recovery, Disaster response, Flood Recovery, Materials, equipment and procedures, staff
A Library Marking student employee is property stamping the front inside cover of a new book.
Apr 30 2019

A student’s perspective on working in the library

Posted on April 30, 2019April 30, 2019 by Abigail Evans
A Library Marking student employee is property stamping the front inside cover of a new book.
Preservation & Conservation student employee Colleen McFarlane marks a new book before it heads to the shelves for circulation.

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The Preservation & Conservation department employs 19 students in positions ranging from digitization to book repair to conservation. Within the Marking unit, student employees mark new books to prepare them for patron use. We start by property stamping them, then we insert a security device, and mark them with an adhesive call number label. We also work with other media besides books, including CDs and DVDs. Marking students also work on other preservation projects as they arise.

Oftentimes, I work together with other student employees on these projects. This, along with interviewing Preservation and Conservation employees for blog posts, has allowed me to get to know my coworkers. Fostering work relationships allows for successful collaboration and creates a welcoming work environment.

Additionally, finding a balance between work life and school has allowed me to learn valuable time management skills and how to prioritize tasks. Working as a marking student has taught me attention to detail and how to remain focused on the task at hand. I get the chance to try to do my best work with every new book and each new task.

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Student employee uses sponge to clean a dusty book.
Students in the Marking unit also work on special preservation-related projects and gain experience cleaning and handling fragile materials.

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Posted in Main library, Materials, equipment and procedures, staff
Preservation Week April 21-27, 2019
Apr 23 2019

Preservation Week 2019

Posted on April 23, 2019April 23, 2019 by Abigail Evans

The banner reads "Preservation Week April 21-27, 2019" and the preservation week website is listed below (http://www.ala.org/alcts/preservationweek)

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This week is Preservation Week, which is sponsored by the Association for Library Collections & Technical Services (ALCTS), a branch of the American Library Association (ALA). Preservation Week is an opportunity to learn about and take action to preserve collections. The theme for this year’s celebration is “Preserving Your Family History” which emphasizes the importance of preserving the collections of families, individuals, and communities in addition to those in libraries, museums, and archives.

According to the Preservation Week website, “An estimated 1.3 billion items are at risk—in need of treatment to be stable enough for use, or in need of improved enclosures or environment to reduce the risk and rate of damage.”

The 2019 Preservation Week Honorary Chair is Kenyatta D. Berry. Berry is a genealogist with a focus on African American genealogy and slave ancestral research. She will be presenting in one of this year’s webinars. Free webinars from every year since 2010 can be found on the Preservation Week website, including three from our very own Nancy E. Kraft.

The website has other helpful information about taking care of personal media collections such as scrapbooks, home videos, photos, and more. Visit the website to learn more about how to participate in Preservation Week.

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The picture is a poster that describes basic steps to preserving personal items like photos.
Click to view larger.

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Posted in Community, outreach, education, and events, Materials, equipment and procedures, staff, Tips
There are two books. The one on the left has a front cover that is bigger than the textblock and the one on the right has a cover where the leather is lighter than the spine and back cover.
Apr 16 2019

Mystery of the mismatched covers

Posted on April 16, 2019April 16, 2019 by Abigail Evans
There are two books. The one on the left has a front cover that is bigger than the textblock and the one on the right has a cover where the leather is lighter than the spine and back cover.
The first book (left) has a front cover that is too large and the second one (right) has a cover that is too light.

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The first book is upside down to show that the front cover is wider and taller than the back cover.
The front cover that came with the first book is both too wide and too tall for the text block.
The image shows the front cover of the first book on the left and the back cover of the second on the right. They have matching designs in the leather.
The mismatched front cover of the first book matches the back cover of the second.

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About a month ago the conservation department received a book for repair from the John Martin Rare Book Room in the Hardin Library for the Health Sciences. Beth Stone, assistant conservator, noticed that the front cover of the book did not match the back cover. It was taller and wider than the text block and the leather did not match the back cover in color or design.

A couple weeks later another book arrived for repair, yet again with a mismatched front cover. Stone immediately recognized the back cover of this second book for the design in the leather – it matched the detached front cover of the first book perfectly. The dimensions were correct, and the sewing supports on the spine of this second book matched up with the front cover from the first.

Unfortunately, the front cover of the second book was not a match for the first book. The cover was too tall, and the leather was a way lighter color than the attached back cover. This means instead of direct swap, there must be a third mystery book involved.

Now, in addition to searching for the missing cover of the first book, the conservation staff has other questions to consider. The two detached front covers both have bookplates from the same owner. One cover also has signatures from other previous owners. Were these covers attached to the proper books when they were signed? Were they switched during ownership or after accession to the library? Since it is important to preserve the history of these books, these questions need to be considered before the conservation department takes further steps to repair these books. [/ezcol_2third_end]

Posted in Book & paper conservation, Materials, equipment and procedures, staff
This picture is a screenshot of three windows including a transcript of David Sedaris' Prairie Lights reading, an audio file, and a text editor notepad.
Apr 09 2019

Making A/V collections more accessible

Posted on April 9, 2019 by Abigail Evans
This picture is a screenshot of three windows including a transcript of David Sedaris' Prairie Lights reading, an audio file, and a text editor notepad.
This screenshot shows the Rev transcript of David Sedaris’ Prairie Lights reading alongside the audio file and text editor.

[ezcol_2third] Brad Ferrier, digital projects librarian, coordinates transcription and caption for Audio/Video (A/V) materials in the library’s collection. “Transcription is converting the speech in an audio file into a written plain text document. Caption is converting the speech in a video file into text which is synced and appears on-screen with the video,” Ferrier explains.

Incoming A/V materials are transcribed and captioned by Library Assistant Joyce Barker. Materials already in digital storage are sent to Rev, which is a transcription, caption, and translation service. When the transcripts and captions are returned, Ferrier helps conduct a quality check. Then the materials are sent on to Digital Preservation Librarian Dan Johnson. Johnson puts the transcripts and captions in long-term digital storage and either posts them to the Digital Library or sends them to whoever requested the project.

Ferrier has worked with A/V from Special Collections, University Archives, Iowa Women’s Archive, and the Music Library. As one of his projects, he processed transcripts of readings from the Live from Prairie Lights series, including of David Sedaris’ 2014 reading.

Transcribing/captioning audio and video has many benefits. “In addition to making the material usable for the deaf and hard of hearing, it can aid in understanding for non-native speakers, it can be used in noisy or distracting environments where audio cannot be played,” says Ferrier. This important work also makes the A/V material more searchable. [/ezcol_2third] [ezcol_1third_end]

This picture contains a workflow web that shows the step-by-step procedure for processing transcript/caption requests.
This is a workflow chart that shows the process for creating transcripts and captions for A/V materials.

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Posted in Digital preservation, Main library, Materials, equipment and procedures, staff
Pictured is a blue bag containing tools with items set out in front of it including a wrench, mallet, hammer, screwdriver, pliers, caution tape, and wire (left to right).
Apr 02 2019

Part Two: A Librarian’s Disaster Response Gear

Posted on April 2, 2019 by Abigail Evans

By Nancy E Kraft

Originally printed in The Gristmill, A Publication of the Mid-West Tool Collectors Association, March 2019, p. 45.

Check out part one of this blog post.

Pictured is a blue bag containing tools with items set out in front of it including a wrench, mallet, hammer, screwdriver, pliers, caution tape, and wire (left to right).
This trunk kit contains useful items for disaster response including a hammer, mallet, caution tape, screwdrivers and many other tools.

My Trunk Kit has expanded from a flashlight and a screw driver to include pliers, wrenches, screwdrivers, a hammer, mallet, crowbar, string, twine, utility knives, caution tape, duct tape, gloves, scissors, flash lights, a “head” light, and hiking boots. The crowbar is handy for prying swollen doors and drawers open. Wet books swell, become jammed into shelves, and often need to be tapped out with a mallet. Ideally, all items will have wood or rubber handles to protect from electrical conductivity. In addition to the trunk kit, I utilize whatever I can find at hand. Window screens are handy for drying out fabrics, thin paper and photographs. String or rope can be strung up between trees and CDs, DVDs, slides, and photographs can be hung up to dry.

Conservation recovery tools have also evolved over the last 25 years. We have multiple types of erasers, brushes, bone and Teflon tools, spatulas, tweezers, and knives for cleaning. We have learned to rinse off the mud and gunk, let material dry and then gently clean the remaining dirt and mud by erasing, scraping, separating pages with the use of multiple tools. I am always amazed at what can be repaired and returned to the library or museum for continued use.

Posted in Community, outreach, education, and events, Disaster response, Materials, equipment and procedures, staff
Pictures shows a pink backpack with items sitting in front of it. These items are a hard hat, Tyvek suits, gloves, a safety vest, and respiratory masks.
Mar 26 2019

Part One: A Librarian’s Disaster Response Gear

Posted on March 26, 2019 by Abigail Evans

By Nancy E Kraft

Originally printed in The Gristmill, A Publication of the Mid-West Tool Collectors Association, March 2019, p. 45.

Pictures shows a pink backpack with items sitting in front of it. These items are a hard hat, Tyvek suits, gloves, a safety vest, and respiratory masks.
This “go bag” contains a hard hat, Tyvek suits, gloves, a safety vest, and respiratory masks.

With the Mid-West Tool Collectors Association Fall meeting in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and the fact that I assisted in responding to the flood of 2008, I thought it would be interesting to highlight the personal gear I use to respond to disasters to libraries and museums. The gear can be divided into three categories: personal protective equipment, response tools, and recovery tools.

When I became a preservation librarian in 1993, I had training and information on how to respond to a disaster to collections in a library or museum. My training included a list of needed supplies such as sponges and mops and stressed personal safety but did not include a list of response tools, conservation tools, or personal protective equipment.

Over the years, my understanding of the type of protective gear needed in response grew and continues to be refined. My protective gear has evolved from a pair of rubber boots in the office to a “go bag” which includes a wind-up flashlight (in case there is no electricity), hard hat, goggles, Tyvek suit, rain boots, two types of respiratory masks, nitrile & workman gloves. I always add water, a wide brimmed hat, sun screen, and energy bars.

Posted in Community, outreach, education, and events, Disaster response, Materials, equipment and procedures, staff
Pagan (first row, second from the left) and other participants stand in front of the San Juan National Historic Site for a group photo.
Mar 14 2019

Pagan heads to Puerto Rico for cultural heritage conservation project

Posted on March 14, 2019 by Abigail Evans
Pagan (first row, second from the left) and other participants stand in front of the San Juan National Historic Site for a group photo.
Pagan (first row, second from the left) and other participants take group photo at the National Historic Site, Castillo de San Cristobal in San Juan.

[ezcol_2third] Candida Pagan, project conservator, traveled to Puerto Rico in early February to participate in the Helping Puerto Rican Heritage Project (HPRH).

Puerto Rico faces specific preservation challenges due to the tropical climate. Salt and humidity, along with more catastrophic weather like hurricanes, pose issues for institutions that house archives and collections. HPRH seeks to educate participants about conservation efforts in Puerto Rico while also advising conservators about care and preservation of their collections.

During HPRH, Pagan and the other participants toured a number of cultural heritage sites including the San Juan National Historic Site, Museo de Arte de Ponce, and the Hacienda Buena Vista, a living history museum whose coffee crops were damaged during Hurricane Maria. Participants also toured the Materials Characterization Center at the University of Puerto Rico’s Molecular Science Research Center. The Project included a symposium at the Fundación Luis Muñoz Marín, during which Pagan presented on basic book care and conservation. The presentations were followed by a Q & A, one of many sessions that Pagan enjoyed throughout her time with HPRH. The final day was a work day at Casa Blanca followed by a tour of La Casa del Libro for book and paper conservators.

“There are a lot of people who care about the preservation of cultural property and history,” Pagan said. “There are over 500 years-worth of historical artifacts from the time of Spanish and US governance, and a rich archaeological history that tells us about the lives of indigenous people before then.” [/ezcol_2third] [ezcol_1third_end]

Photo shows rows on cannonballs sitting on the floor and another stack on a cart with HPRH members walking in the background.
Cannonball conservation at Castillo San Felipe del Morro
Debora Mayer (second from the left), Helen H. Glaser Senior Paper Conservator at the Weisman Preservation Center speaking from the panel of conservators during audience Q&A at the Fundación Luis Muñoz Marín
Debora Mayer, Helen H. Glaser Senior Paper Conservator at Weisman Preservation Center speaks during Q&A at Fundación Luis Muñoz Marín

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Coffee bean drying rack with scale model in front of a small blue building.
Coffee bean drying rack with scale model at living museum, Hacienda Buena Vista coffee plantation in Ponce.
Colorful umbrellas hanging from wire about Foraleza Street.
Umbrellas above Fortaleza Street, in Old San Juan
Fundación Luis Muñoz Marín building with trees and bushes out front and a sign that reads "Archivo Historico."
Archives building at Fundación Luis Muñoz Marín
Posted in Book & paper conservation, Community, outreach, education, and events, Disaster recovery, Materials, equipment and procedures, staff
Members of the ISO working group watch lead writer for the disaster response standard (French representative Celine Allain) unwrap a thank you gift.
Feb 26 2019

Nancy Kraft travels to Berlin for ISO meeting

Posted on February 26, 2019 by Abigail Evans

Nancy Kraft, Head of Preservation & Conservation, recently traveled to Berlin for an International Organization for Standardization (ISO) meeting. The meeting was one of many work sessions to draft and publish a new international standard for emergency preparedness and response plans. The standard addresses what libraries, archives, and museums should include in their disaster response plans and is adaptable for any disaster and any size organization. Since the standard is international, the draft accounts for all kinds of disasters in different geographical locations. For example, in Iowa we must deal with floods and tornadoes, whereas California needs to think about earthquakes and forest fires.

Kraft had been corresponding with other members of the ISO Working Group via the internet since she became a member in the fall of 2015, but as the draft progressed and became more intricate she needed to start attending meetings in person. One meeting was held in Berlin from January 30th through February 1st and consisted of delegates from Sweden, France, Germany, and the U.S. “As the only native English speaker in the group, I did my best to explain nuances and best choice of words,” said Kraft. She was able to draw on her own experiences with disaster response to help inform the draft. Although the lead writer’s first language is French, she drafted the standard in English and was quite thorough in her approach.

When the disaster response standard is published, it will be available in both French and English. The ISO website says that drafting a standard normally takes around three years, and this one is no exception. It has undergone many rounds of drafts with comments from the working group and the international standards community. During the last round of comments there were over 300 editorial suggestions, so although the draft was approved for publication, it will need to be sent out for one final round of comments. Kraft hopes the standard will be published within the year.

Once the document is published, it will be reviewed every five years to keep it up to date. UI Libraries will use the standard to create a new disaster response plan.

Members of the ISO working group watch lead writer for the disaster response standard (French representative Celine Allain) unwrap a thank you gift.
ISO Working Group thanking lead writer, French representative Céline Allain, for all her hard work, February 1, 2019.
Members of the ISO Working Group are sitting around a table discussing the disaster response standard on January 31st, 2019.
ISO Working Group at the Deutsches Institut für Normung (German organization for national standards) in Berlin, January 31, 2019.
Posted in Book & paper conservation, Main library, Materials, equipment and procedures, staff
An original Burmese manuscript shows wear and tear around the edges. A model of the original sits below the original
Feb 13 2019

New addition to the Book Model Collection

Posted on February 13, 2019 by Abigail Evans
An original Burmese manuscript shows wear and tear around the edges. A model of the original sits below the original
The elaborate design on the original (top) was beautifully recreated in the model (bottom).

Christine Manwiller, former UI Center for the Book (UICB) student, created a facsimile of a Burmese binding for a historical binding class she took as part of her MFA degree. The original Burmese book was from Fritz James, the retired CEO of Library Binding Service, Inc. He acquired the manuscript during his travels and gifted it to the University of Iowa Libraries shortly before Manwiller was inspired to make the model. The original book is an accordion foldout. Its palm leaf style was typical of Burmese books from the late 19th century. Its ornate binding is covered in imitation precious stones, and this elaborate design was likely chosen to highlight the manuscript’s religious significance. Manwiller recreated the text block, emulating the white Pali script written on black paper. She constructed the outside boards, finding materials that would closely match those used for the original book. Conservator Giselle Simón said that this project was an “attractive prospect” for Manwiller, who finds joy in detailed work. Manwiller is now at Buffalo State University in their advanced conservation program.

The facsimile of the Burmese binding is part of the Book Model Collection (BMC), which is housed in the UI Libraries’ Conservation Lab. The BMC was able to acquire the model thanks to the William Anthony Conservation Fund. In 1984, Anthony founded the Conservation Lab and was its first conservator. The fund is meant to honor his achievements and support ongoing and special conservation projects. To view the facsimile in the BMC contact Simón at giselle-simon@uiowa.edu. More information about the original Burmese book can be found in the Iowa Digital Library and the object can be viewed in Special Collections.

The original Burmese manscript is open and displaying white Pali script on black paper.
White Pali script in the original Burmese manuscript
This picture shows the model folded open so that the elaborate cover is showing in addition to Manwiller's imitation script.
This picture features Mawiller’s replicated script and the model’s ornate cover.
Posted in Book & paper conservation, Main library, staff

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