Re: Exhibits + One Other Matter

[Henry Grunder <hgrunder@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Bob - We are organized here (Library of Virginia, Richmond) 
completely differently. We don't have a Preservation Office. My
title is Conservation/Preservation Coordinatort, which is
really little more than odd-jobs person in the Special
Collections unit. We all collaborate with the Exhibits
Coordinator. Our model - if such it be - is more based on
museum practice, which is indeed the background of several of
our people. It cannot be really said that we have a PA.
Certainly our Admin doesn't seem able to understand the
concept. If you send me a PO address, I will send a copy of our
floor plan, from which you will see that we just close off the
Exhibit Hall between times. Exhib Coord contracts out a lot of
the hands-on. We are the combined state library/state archives. 
This is a little disorganized.
Henry Grunder
Conservation/Preservation Coordinator
The Library of Virginia 
According to Robert J. Milevski:
> 
> Folks,
> 
> Please let me float another query to the list.  (I will speak about my last
> query at the end of this message.)
> 
> The Preservation Office here at Princeton is responsible for all exhibit
> prep and installation in the main library. (Curatorial staff from the
> library's Department of Rare Books and Special Collections are responsible
> for the intellectual content of the exhibits.)   I would like to hear from
> other library PAs whose units have similar responsibilities and who can
> offer insights into the following:
> 
> 1.      Can you close off your exhibit space to the public between exhibits?
> 1a.     If you cannot, how do you inform the public and staff moving through
> the space of an exhibit change and the preparations currently being made to
> install a new one?
> 2.      How long on average does it take for you to take down one exhibit
> and install another?  
> 2a.     If you are in a public space which remains open, exhibit in place or
> not, how long do your exhibit cases remain empty between exhibits?
> 3.      Do you have dedicated exhibit prep staff?
> 3a.     If yes, how many FTE?
> 3b.     What level are these staff?  Professional, technical, paraprofessional?
> 3c.     If no, how do you handle exhibit prep among your staff?
> 3d.     What priority is given exhibit work in relation to other department
> work?
> 4.      During take down of one exhibit and installation of another, do you
> call in other preservation staff to expedite the process, ie to shorten
> downtime as much as possible, eg by making cradles or mats, fabricating
> labels and case cards, cleaning cases, removing/installing objects from/in
> the cases, etc?
> 5.      Who is your library is responsible for the intellectual content of
> the exhibits?
> 5a.     Do these staff meet your deadlines regarding receipt of materials to
> prep them appropriately?
> 6.      How many exhibits do you put up in a typical year?
> 6a.     How many objects do you handle for exhibit in a typical year?
> 6b.     Of those you handle, how many receive conservation treatment before
> or after exhibit?
> 7.      For those of you without exhibit responsibilities, does your library
> have a separate exhibits office?
> 
> Princeton Special Collections Conservation unit staff within the
> Preservation Office are responsible for exhibits, and one technical position
> is dedicated to exhibit prep and installation etc.  (Other unit staff pitch
> in when necessary to expedite matters.)  This position is one year young but
> exhibit prep was handled differently (in special collections) prior to this
> position's extablishment.  Last year we prepped and installed 9 exhibits in
> three separate exhibit areas in the library.  This involved handling more
> than 1,000 objects--books, flat papers, and 3D pieces.  We also loaned a
> number of objects for 5 exhibits at other institutions.  Items requiring
> treatment and protection in order for them to be safely exhibited are
> handled accordingly.  There has been a tremendous growth in the amount of
> work being done along with concomitant challenges which must be addressed.
> So I am asking for you to share your experiences with me and the list.
> 
> NEWS CONCERNING MY LAST QUERY:  I received a very fair number of responses
> to my query about preservation committees and will summarize the results for
> all to see soon.
> 
> Thank you.
> 
> Robert
> ************************************************
> Robert J. Milevski
> Preservation Librarian
> Princeton University Library
> One Washington Road
> Princeton, NJ 08540
> 609-258-5591; fax: 609-258-4105
> email: milevski@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> *************************************************
> 
>