[PADG:1824] Re: Preservation Awareness During Tight Budgetary Times

[Laura Cameron <slash@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Ellen,

Here at Stanford I know exactly what you're going through.  We
talked about deferred binding as one alternative to get the operating
costs down.  However, that was really not going to save us a lot in
the long run and it really puts our collections at risk.  So as an
alternative to binding (overall ) we are going to try our hand at Book
Stiffening.  Currently Cornell is using this process and has been
for, I believe, 15 years (? don't quote me).  I'm trying to get a
trip together within the next month to assess the process and to see if
it really will fit with our current situation and resources.

We were just discussing today that when budget cuts hit, Preservation is
usually it's first victim.  I would be happy to discuss this with
you further and if you had any questions see what I could do as far as
getting them answered.



At 02:46 PM 10/17/2002 -0400, you wrote:
We are looking for a discussion of what other
Preservation Folks in Academic
Library Institutions are experiencing with Budget Cuts and limiting
funds
and what this means for Preservation in the future.
This year we are facing big challenges as our Preservation Budget has
been
reduced .  We have currently stopped Binding and are looking for new
ways to
be creative and resourceful in Preservation.  During this lean time,
we are
exploring ways that Preservation can add more to our Collections by
maintaining  materials and performing more in-house
operations.  As
Preservation  is more than just  binding  materials in the
Collections, it
is also focused on extending the shelflife of all materials in the
longterm,
using a variety of treatments and optimum conditions. This could be
an
opportune time to increase awareness of Preservation's Role in
Academic
Libraries.  We are very interested in learning more about what
our
colleagues in other Academic Library Institutions are experiencing 
in their
efforts to preserve Collections during difficult budgetary times. 
How are
other Institutions supporting their Preservation Staff?   Do
others agree
that
this is a time for education and exploration of Preservation Issues
and
Awareness?


Ellen L. Welch
Preservation Coordinator
University Of Virginia Library
Alderman Library
PO BOX 400105
Charlottesville, VA. 22904-4105
E-mail:  elg3e@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Phone:  804 924-1055
FAX:     804  924-3143
Laura Cameron
Head, Binding & Finishing
Preservation Department
Stanford University Libraries
Stanford, CA  94305
650 723 3401
slash@xxxxxxxxxxxx