CoOL

Conservation/Preservation Information for the General Public

While some of these resources are in fact intended for museum, library, and archive professionals, in general they do not require a technical background, and should be of use to the lay public.

Some of these sites are vendors of products and services and the information offered is intermixed with commercial content. Mention of a resource here does not in any way indicate endorsement of any product or service, nor does it imply endorsement of the validity of the technical information itself.

See also the following areas in CoOL


Preservation Resources listed by Author/Organization/Company
Finding a Conservator
Reference Services


Preservation Resources listed by Author/Organization/Company

American Institute for Conservation
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions about Conservation
Definitions of Conservation Terminology
How to Choose a Conservator
Find a Conservator

The tool provides a systematic, consistent method of obtaining current information to identify and locate professional conservation services from all across the United States and abroad. It allows you to address a wide range of conservation problems, whether your needs are long-range or short-term and whether your collection consists of thousands of valuable historic artifacts, one priceless work of art, or items of great personal value.

Caring for Your Treasures: Guides for Taking Care of Your Personal Heritage
The Bishop Museum link verified 9/18/2015
Bugs are eating my family treasures
Lacquer
Mat and Frames
Silver
Wet Cleaning Quilts at Home
Preserving Book Collections in Hawai'i
The Care of Feathers
Archival Mounts For Paintings on Textiles
Disaster Preparedness and Recovery For Works of Art on Paper
Caring for Tapa
Bleaching
Caring for Calabashes

Preservation Advisory Centre, British Library link verified 9/18/2015
Understanding and caring for bookbindings
Cleaning books and documents

Conservation Register (Icon) link verified 9/18/2015
Archaeological materials
Architectural ironwork
Art on paper
Books (Welsh versiion: Gofal a chadwraeth llyfrau a Beiblau)
Carpets and rugs
Carved stone
Ceramic and Glass
Clocks
Costume and textiles (Welsh version: Gofal a chadwraeth gwisgoedd a thecstilau (Care and conservation of costumes and textiles))
Decorative schemes and surfaces
Documents and archives (Welsh version: Gofal achadwraeth dogfennau ac archifau)
Ethnographic objects
Fashion accessories
Frames and gilding
Furniture
Jewellery
Oil paintings
Photographic materials (Welsh version: Gofal a chadwraeth ffotograffig)
Plastic materials
Prints, drawings and watercolours
Silver and plate
Stained glass
Care and preservation of removable digital and electronic media
Guidelines for conservation mounting and framing of works of art on paper

Jeanne Drewes
Library Insurance Bibliography
Insurance Information Sources
Some Insurance Companies with Cultural Institutions Policies
Insurance glossary

Glow Imaging link verified 9/18/2015
How To Preserve Old Photos Without Losing Your Mind

Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village link verified 9/18/2015
Caring from Your Artifacts
A series of preservation fact sheets, intended for the lay public, and developed by FFM&GV conservation staff. These fact sheets provide basic information on the care, cleaning, and handling of a particular type of artifact, referral information to other conservation organizations, and a bibliography of authoritative works.
Archival materials
Brass and bronze
Clocks
Glass and ceramics
Furniture and wooden objects
Historical iron
Oil paintings
Works of art on paper
Photographic prints
Historical silver
Antique textiles and costumes
Heritage Garment Preservation link verified 9/18/2015
Katherine Wright
Wedding Gown Cleaning and Preservation: Get the Facts! A Consumer Report

Nimfa R. Maravilla
Causes of Deterioration of Paper

Heritage Preservation
Tips for Safely Cleaning Family Treasures
Tips for Salvaging Water Damaged Valuables
Several print resources can also be ordered online

Image Permanence Institute (IPI)
Scrapbook and Home ArchivesPreservation

Iowa Conservation and Preservation Consortium
ICPC Tip Sheets
Audio Tapes
Precious Documents
CD-DVD Tip sheet
Creating Enclosures
Photograph
Time Capsules
Drying Materials
Preserving Scrapbooks
Creating an Archival Scrapbook or Photo Album

Kodak
Film Storage Information

Library of Congress
Preparing, Protecting, Preserving Family Treasures

Frequently Asked Questions on Preservation
  • Care, storage, and display of books, documents, works of art on paper
  • Dealing with wet, moldy, or insect-infested books
  • Preserving family photographs, newspaper clippings
  • Dealing with insects in books
  • Preserving leather
Preserving Works on Paper: Manuscripts, Drawings, Prints, Posters, Maps, Documents
Care, Handling and Storage of Motion Picture Film
Caring for Cylinder Recordings
Cylinder, Disc and Tape Care in a Nutshell
Leather Dressing
Preservation of Scrapbooks and Albums
Caring for Your Photographic Collections
Care, Handling and Storage of Books
Preservation Photocopying
Guide to Preservation Matting and Framing
More guides, bibliographies, and supplier lists are available at Collections Care and Conservation

Library of Virginia
Guide to Preserving Family Historical Records
How to Protect Your Family Papers
Protecting Your Books
Protecting Your Family Photographs

Minnesota Historical Society
Framing papers and photos for display and preservation.
Framing textiles for display and preservation.
Is Your Textile Suitable for Framing? (PDF)
Mounting Flat Needlework Textiles on a fabric-covered board for framing (PDF)
Preserving Historic Quilts (PDF)
Caring for damaged books. (PDF)
Creating your own time capsule. (PDF)
Advice for Framing Art, Documents, Letters, Photographs, and Other Paper Items
Conserving your composition doll.
Restoring belongings damaged by natural disasters.
Salvaging water-damaged photographs.
Salvaging flood-and other water-damaged valuables of all kinds.
Preserving your photographs.
Salvaging water-damagedwood.
Tech Talk newsletter
Conserving firearms, Part 1. (PDF)
Conserving firearms, Part 2. (PDF)
Caring for photographic materials, Part I. (PDF)
Preserving Your Photographs (PDF)
Caring for photographs, Part 2. (PDF)
Storage of glass-plate photographic negatives. (PDF)
Conserving political buttons. (PDF)
Treating and maintaining masonry, Part 1. (PDF)
Treating and maintaining masonry, Part 2. (PDF)
Preserving historic quilts. (PDF)
Caring for sports memorabilia. (PDF)
Preserving Newspapers: When and How To (PDF)
Conserving archaeological artifacts found under water

Minnesota State University Library
Preventive Conservation
How to Treat a Book
Preservation quiz

Patricia Morris
Conserving Works of Art on Paper: Suggestions from an expert on the care and conservation of valuable works on paper Originally appeared in The Wingspread Collector's Guide to Santa Fe and Taos, Volume 9

Missouri State Archives
The Local Records Preservation Program publishes a collection of fact sheets called Conservation Notes
Storage and Housing of Archival Collections
Guidelines for Selecting Plastic Enclosures for Collections Storage
Humidification and Flattening of Documents
Integrated Pest Management
Sources for Archival Supplies
Conservation Terms
Sources for Preservation Information
Care of Scrapbooks

Museum of Modern Art (MOMA)
Answers to questions about: care of outdoor bronze sculpture and wood sculpture; care of twentieth-century furniture; matting and framing works of art on paper; protecting paper from light damage; displaying and storing artwork; foxing

New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Guidelines on Assessment and Remediation of Fungi in Indoor Environments

"These guidelines are intended for use by building owners and managers, environmental contractors and environmental consultants. It is also available for general distribution to anyone concerned about indoor mold growth. The attached fact sheet, Mold Growth: Prevention and Cleanup for Building Owners and Managers, is a simplified summary of these guidelines, which may be useful for building owners, managers and workers."

Facts About Mold

National Archives of Australia
Preserving CDs and DVDs
Archival quality paper products
Preserving archival volumes
Preserving paper documents and artworks
Rules for use of 'Archival Quality' certification trademark
Choosing the right paper
Preserving motion picture film
Preserving gramophone discs
Preserving magnetic media
Preserving maps and plans
Preserving microforms
Preserving objects
Preserving paper files
About the Photographic Activity Test
Preserving electrostatic and laser photocopy prints
Preserving photographs
Register of certified archival quality products
Managing records on thermal papers
Recovering flood-damaged records
Recovering fire-damaged records
Integrated pest management
Displaying archival records
Creating a time capsule

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
Caring for Your Family Archives
  • How do I preserve my family papers?
  • How can I safely mount my documents, memorabilia, and photographs into albums or scrapbooks?
  • What kind of photo album should I use?
  • How should I attach my photos to the album pages?
  • Should I remove my photographs from old albums, such as black paper albums or self-stick albums?
  • How should I caption my photographic prints; is there a safe way to write on the back of photographs?
  • How should I frame and display my photographs?
  • How should I store my photographic prints?
  • Should I convert my home movies to video tape?
  • How can I get some important documents that I own repaired?
  • Should I digitize my photo collection?
  • Is it safe to throw away my original film and prints after I digitize them?
General Preservation of Records
  • What should I do with wet records?
  • My records have bugs. What should I do?
  • My records have mold growing on them. What should I do?
  • Where can I get conservation help?
  • How can I preserve an important edition of a newspaper?
  • How should I store my photographic prints?
  • Should I digitize my photo collection?
  • Is it safe to throw away my original film and prints after I digitize them?
  • How can I remove old tapes, make repairs, or flatten rolled or curled photos?
  • What books are available about conservation of documents or other materials?
  • How can I get some important documents that I own repaired?
  • How can I determine if I have an historic copy of the Declaration of Independence

Environment
  • My records have bugs. What should I do?
  • My records have mold growing on them. What should I do?

Paper, Parchment
  • What's the difference between parchment, vellum, and paper?
  • How do I preserve my family papers?
  • How can I preserve an important edition of a newspaper?
  • Archival Copies of Thermofax, Verifax, and Other Unstable Records
  • How can I get some important documents that I own repaired?
  • What should I do with wet records?

Bound volumes
  • Guidelines for Shelving Bound Volumes
  • What Should I Do with Wet Records?

MotionPictures
  • Should I convert my home movies to video tape?

PhotographicMaterials
  • How can I remove old tapes, make repairs, or flatten rolled or curled photos?
  • Where can I find sources for duplicating/copying historical photographs?
  • I've heard that color photos fade. What can be done to stop the fading?
  • Technical Requirements for the Duplication of Black and White Negatives
  • How can I safely mount my documents, memorabilia, and photographs into albums or scrapbooks?
  • What kind of photo album should I use?
  • How should I attach my photos to the album pages?
  • How should I caption my photographic prints; is there a safe way to write on the back of photographs?
  • How should I frame and display my photographs?
  • Should I digitize my photo collection?
  • Is it safe to throw away my original film and prints after I digitize them?

Audioand Video Tapes and Disks
  • Should I convert my home movies to video tape?

Disaster Prevention and Recovery
Time Capsules

National Archives, United Kingdom
Caring for your prints, drawings and watercolours (PDF)
Caring for your photographs
Caring for your Books
Caring for your records
Protecting records against disasters (PDF)
Care, Handling and Storage of Removable Media (PDF)
An Introduction to Seals
Care, Handling and Storage of Removable Media

National Library of New Zealand
Care of Sound Recordings
Fact Sheet
  • Preserving Family Collections
  • Care of Books
  • Care of Works of Art on Paper
  • Care of Archival Collections
  • Care of Photographs
  • Care of Sound Recordings: Discs and Magnetic Tapes
  • Care of Digital Prints

Northern States Conservation Center
Collection Care
Information on: collection environment, numbering, storage, exhibiting, handling, cleaning, pest control, security, long range planning, and emergency preparedness

Preserve, Inc
Guidelines for Conservation
Information about preserving dance documentation, including
Videotape
Documents on paper
Photographs and Film

Public Record Office
An Introduction toEnglish Paper
An Introductionto Parchment
AnIntroduction to Photographs
An Introduction to Seals (PDF)
An Introduction to Watermarks (PDF)
An Introduction to Writing inks (PDF)
An Introduction to Printing inks (PDF)
A Brief History of Textiles in England (PDF)

ScreenSound Australia
How to Care for your Audio Collection
How to Care for your Film
How to Care for your Video

Wendy Smith
Preservation glossary—libraries and archives

Gwen Spicer
Glossary of safe materials for storage

State Library of Victoria
Conservation guides
Caring for family history documents
Caring for photographs
Caring for works on paper
Dealing with mould
Dealing with pests
Framing artworks on paper
Packing & storing books
Storing newspapers

University of Delaware Library
An Ounce of Prevention discusses "the causes of damage and deterioration, and what library staff and users can do to help preserve the collections".

University of Kansas Libraries
Brian J. Baird
Preserving Your Personal Collections "discusses how people can preserve their personal collections of books, photographs, documents, computer files, and audio/visual materials"

University Products
Archival Glossary

"This glossary is intended to help you make an informed choice of which materials you should use for the preservation of books, papers, photographs and other artifacts in your collection. Please note that this glossary is written in non-technical terms in order to help those lacking collections care training to meet the responsibilities required of them."

How-To Tips
Book Repair: Hinge Tightening I
Encapsulation
Book Repair: Hinge Tightening II
Instructions for Creating Display Forms
Book Repair: Tipping-In Loose Pages
Buffered vs. Unbuffered
Mount Making using Vivak Polyester Sheets
Conservation Framing
Preventing Insect Infestation
Corrugated Book Mounts
Separating Photographs that Stick Together
Display and Storage of Books
Temperature and Humidity

Media Matters
Jim Lindner
Confessions of a Videotape Restorer or How come these tapes all need to be cleaned differently?
Digitization Reconsidered
How to Care for Your Originals
Magnetic Tape Deterioration: Tidal Wave at Our Shores
The Proper Care and Feeding of Videotape
Videotape Restoration—Where Do I Start?

Your Black Mold Guide: A Comprehensive Guide to Black Mold
"Dedicated to educating home and building owners about a dangerous genus of mold, referred to in the scientific community as 'Stachybotrys'", offers dozens of succinct articles covering the causes, prevention, and health issues pertainiing to black mold (as well as coverage of inspection and remediation

Robert Zimmerman
Technology to Watch: Shelf Lives and Videotape, Fortune, October 18, 1993.



Finding a conservator



Finding a Conservator

How to Choose a Conservator
Find a Conservator
(See also AIC section below)

Canadian Association of Professional Conservators (CAPC)
Contents include

This very valuable resource lists CAPC geographically and by specialty, indicating which members accept private commissions, accreditation status, as well as contact information.


Reference Services

Northeast Document Conservation Center (NEDCC)
Preservation Reference Service

"NEDCC's Field Service staff is available to answer preservation questions by phone, fax, or email. This service is available for institutions or individuals with paper-based collections, and it is provided at no charge to the inquirer thanks to a grant to NEDCC from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).... Information is provided on all aspects of paper preservation and conservation. Answers to some frequently asked questions are available at this site.

NEDCC has also produced a variety of short technical leaflets that address many common preservation topics. Single copies are available from the Field Service staff. Many of these leaflets have been collected into an online publication entitled Preservation of Library and Archival Materials: A Manual, 3rd ed. and can be downloaded from our website..."

Among the topics covered in the Frequently Asked Questions section are


Disaster Assistance

"As part of its Field Service program, NEDCC offers an emergency assistance program for institutions and individuals with damaged paper-based collections. NEDCC staff members are available 24 hours a day to provide telephone advice if a disaster occurs. This service is provided at no charge thanks to a grant to NEDCC from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). It does not normally include on-site assistance.

"Information provided includes advice on drying wet collections and dealing with damage from fire, pests, or mold. Referrals to commercial disaster recovery service providers experienced with library and archives collections can also be provided."


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