Preservation surveys

Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts is offering
subsidized preservation overview surveys for paper collections

    *   Are you overwhelmed by the needs of your collection and
        can't decide where to begin?

    *   Do you need to improve storage and environmental conditions,
        security and handling procedures for your collections?

    *   Do you have a preservation plan for your collection? -  Do
        you need an overview survey to support a collection care
        project or grant application?

The Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts (CCAHA)
encourages Mid-Atlantic institutions with paper-based collections to
apply for Preservation Overview Surveys, generously subsidized by a
grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.  CCAHA
continues to offer, for the next two years (1996-1997), subsidized
preservation overview surveys for non-profit organizations,
including libraries, archives, museums, educational institutions,
and historical organizations, that have paper-based collections of
long-term value to the study and understanding of the humanities.

Program Highlights: The purpose of a preservation overview survey is
to assess an institution's current care of its paper-based
collections and to provide strategies for addressing immediate needs
and developing extended strategies for the collections' long-term
preservation.

    *   The Conservation Center is conducting a limited number of
        preservation overview surveys in 1996 and 1997.

    *   There is a fee of $300.00 for a survey, plus travel expenses
        for the surveyor.

    *   Applications are reviewed in order of receipt.  The
        selection process continues throughout each year.

A survey consists of a one-day site visit by a member of the
Center's staff and submission of an extensive report.  An overview
survey encompasses a general review of an institution's preservation
needs with regards to environment (temperature, relative humidity,
pollution, and light), housekeeping, pest control, fire protection,
security, disaster preparedness, storage, handling, exhibition,
treatment, and preservation planning.  To identify the preservation
needs of the institution, the visit consists of a review of the
site, an examination of the collection, and interviews with relevant
staff, including those responsible for collection care, the physical
plant and building maintenance, and security.  A report that
provides observations and recommendations to serve as a guide in the
development of a comprehensive preservation plan for the paper-based
collections is submitted to the participating institution.

Criteria For Participation: To be considered for participation in
the Conservation Center's Subsidized Survey Program, your
institution must have a humanities collection available to the
public.  Preference is given to institutions that conform to the
following criteria:

    *   Institutions with collections that are either unique or of
       significant value to the study and understanding of the
       humanities

    *   Institutions that can make a commitment to developing and
       implementing a long-range preservation plan and that have an
       individual staff member or volunteer willing to assume
       responsibility for preservation activities

    *   Institutions in the Mid-Atlantic region

Application Process: To apply for participation in the Subsidized
Survey Program, please contact the Conservation Center for an
application form.  Send three (3) copies of the completed
application form to the Conservation Center.  Please include one
copy of the following with your application: proof of tax exempt
status; most recent annual financial statement; staff list; list of
board members; written policy statements; and other relevant
information such as brochures, survey summaries, etc.  In the
application narrative section you will be asked to discuss briefly:

    *   educational and research significance or uniqueness of the
        collection

    *   previous collection care practices -  major preservation
        problems and concerns for the collection

    *   reasons that a preservation overview survey is appropriate
        at this time

To request an application form or additional information, please
contact:

    Ms. Virgilia Rawnsley
    Director of Preservation Services
    Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts
    264 South 23rd Street
    Philadelphia, PA  19103
    215-545-0613
    Fax: 215-735-9313
    ccaha [at] shrsys__hslc__org

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 10:18
                 Distributed: Tuesday, August 13, 1996
                       Message Id: cdl-10-18-017
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