Wednesday, January 7, 2009 Our close proximity to the museums we are working with gives us the advantage of easy communication with their curators. Leigh Ann Randak of the Johnson County Historical Society was able to come down to see how our Head Conservator, Gary Frost, was coming along with the ledgers and county registers heContinue reading “Leigh Ann Inspects Proposed Conservation Work”
Category Archives: Book & paper conservation
Salvaging 45 Record Covers: From the Ridiculous to the Sublime
November 18, 2008 Unlike most of the LP covers, the 45 covers are typically printed directly onto the cardboard instead of printed separately and then adhered. This can be helpful or it can be a huge problem as in the case on the right. When this cover got wet, the image was transferred to theContinue reading “Salvaging 45 Record Covers: From the Ridiculous to the Sublime”
Leigh Ann Randak Visits
Monday, November 10, 2008 Leigh Ann from the Johnson County Historical Society came to sort through the books that were freeze-dried and then stored at the UI Main Library –to see what we had here and take away anything she needed, or didn’t need us to work on. Since the boxes are stacked to theContinue reading “Leigh Ann Randak Visits”
Freeze-Drying Kills Bugs
Thursday, November 6, 2008 There’s more than muck that comes with flood water. But we don’t need to worry about finding any live creepy-crawlies as we unpack the books for repair. Freeze drying not only dries books out but also kills insects. ‘Course the dried-out bug is sent back with the book! Even books thatContinue reading “Freeze-Drying Kills Bugs”
Archival Boxes Provide Protection
Tuesday, November 4, 2008 Here’s proof that an archival box does what it is supposed to do, even under extreme conditions — provides protection! You would never guess that this box of newspapers was in a flood. This box of newspapers was rinsed before being sent to be freeze-dried. That’s the extent of treatment soContinue reading “Archival Boxes Provide Protection”
Tough Decisions
Monday, November 3, 2008 Stefanie Kohn, National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library curator, spent the afternoon with us. We reviewed all the objects with her, making sure we had correctly identified those that belong to the Czech/Slovak Museum. Although most items were well marked and quite obvious as to whether they belonged to theContinue reading “Tough Decisions”
Do Not Recycle; Flood-Damaged Books
Friday, October 24, 2008 It took a couple days before we had assistance to move the books and a room secured for the returned freeze-dried materials. In the meantime we kept them in the basement. It never dawned on me that someone might think these materials should be re-cycled! Thankfully someone labeled our stacks.
Documents Arrive From Freeze Dry Facility
Wednesday, October 22, 2008 The items that were sent off to be freeze dried came back today. The books from the National Czech & Slovak Library & Museum are back on skids in the NCSLM building in Cedar Rapids. The materials from the African American Museum of Iowa and the Johnson County Historical Society wereContinue reading “Documents Arrive From Freeze Dry Facility”
Music Rare Book Room Project Continues in the Dark
Wednesday, September 24, 2008 It’s business as usual in spite of the challenges. About a year ago, Gary Frost and Linda Lundy started a boxing project for the Music Library rare books. Gary takes the measurements and Linda makes the boxes. In the past, Gary would go over to the rare book room, take theContinue reading “Music Rare Book Room Project Continues in the Dark”
Amanda’s Grandma’s Bible Completed
Friday, August 29, 2008 Once the Bible was completed, Conservation Assistant Linda Lundy made a box for it. The box will give it added protection for easy transport. It’ll also protect it from dust, sunlight, and dampness. Hopefully, it’ll never go through another tornado. If it does, the box will give it extra protection andContinue reading “Amanda’s Grandma’s Bible Completed”