Thursday, May 15, 2009 The installation of the water system is very complex. It includes a water softener, carbon filter, storage and exchange tanks, a UV light to continually disinfect the constantly circulating water, water purification system, de-ionizer and water heater. The actual installation is being coordinated between the university water engineer and our facilitiesContinue reading “Water System Installation Begins”
Category Archives: Book & paper conservation
Clean Water Coming UP!
Thursday, May 14, 2009 At long last we are seeing action on obtaining a new water system. Our proposal to replace our old system was first drawn up in September 2007. We finally had it accepted in the spring of 2008. Then the floods came. No more money. We could not keep our old systemContinue reading “Clean Water Coming UP!”
Beautiful Boxes Assembly Line Style
Thursday, May 14, 2009 In the lab, we refer to Linda as “the Machine.” As Caitlin and I have occasionally constructed a few blueboard clamshell boxes for items from the African American Museum, Linda has been spitting out cloth covered drop spine boxes. She primarily makes these types of enclosures for Hardin, the Art Library,Continue reading “Beautiful Boxes Assembly Line Style”
Art Folio Portfolio
Wednesday, May 6, 2009 We are making steady progress on the books damaged in the Art Library sprinkler incident. We have been very fortunate in that most books show no to minimal damage. If you look closely at the first couple photos, you can see that there is water staining along the edges. This isContinue reading “Art Folio Portfolio”
Majestic troublemakers
Thursday, April 23, 2009 Three volcanoes overlook the city of Arequipa. Arequipa is known as ¨La Ciudad Blanca¨ or The White City, because of Sillar, the white volcanic rock that many of the buildings are constructed of. Another less desirable byproduct of the volcanoes is a fine glassy dust carried by the wind to settle in a fine layerContinue reading “Majestic troublemakers”
Book Studies and Political Science Collide!
Tuesday, April 21, 2009 Alvaro Meneses, Bibliographer, and Professor of Political Science at the University of San Pablo, paid a visit to our ¨conservation lab¨with his class today. Gary and Joyce talked about different book structures. Chris Ryan gave a brief talk on early books printed at the Oldest University in Spain which is in Salamanca.Continue reading “Book Studies and Political Science Collide!”
Ojos Halcones Take Peru by Storm
Monday , April 20, 2009 For a week and a half, Gary, Joyce, and I have been working in Arequipa, Peru at the Recoleta Monastery. We have been stabilizing and protecting damaged books. Many of these books have been damaged in earthquakes. They are in suprisingly good condition considering how old they are and what theyContinue reading “Ojos Halcones Take Peru by Storm”
Marcas del Fuego or Metal Brands
Tuesday, April 14, 2009 We are currently working in the library of the Recoleta Convent in Arequipa, Peru. One of the most interesting things we have come across in this collection are the Marcas del Fuego. Marcas del Fuego are metal brands that were used to burn identifying marks into books. They were usually an initial or symbol associated withContinue reading “Marcas del Fuego or Metal Brands”
Czech letter 3
Tuesday, April 7, 2009 This letter was simply dry cleaned, there was no mending needed. It was pretty flat already, but I put it between damp blotters and under weight to get rid of the small amount of warping. The sewing was stable and the manuscript dingy, but legible.
Czech letter 2
Monday, April 6, 2009 This letter, besides being filthy, had a severe crease across the center. It was a manuscript rather than printed so I couldn’t wash it. I dry cleaned the three pages of the letter and placed it in a humidification chamber to relax the paper. I then put it between slightly mistedContinue reading “Czech letter 2”