No Boundaries in Preservation

We just launched the Preservation Services grant funded project No Boundaries in Preservation.

NO BOUNDARIES IN PRESERVATION

No Boundaries in Preservation

The main objective of No Boundaries in Preservation is educational and intends to exchange relevant information to the practice of basic preservation and conservation of books and documents in libraries and archives.

To ensure this knowledge can cover a greater number of communities, all files will be offered into three languages: English, Spanish and Portuguese.

Take a look on the first videos and posters for download.

We also worked together with the Council of States Archivists and translated their Pocket Response Guide into Spanish and Portuguese. The Pocket Response Plan™ (PReP™) is a concise document for recording essential information needed by staff in case of a disaster or other emergency. Every person having a response-related assignment should carry a PReP with them at all times.
All the versions are free for downloading.

The funding for No Boundaries in Preservation was provided through the generosity of the University Libraries Innovation Grant Program at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

A 1/4 Leather Book from 1766

Interesting Historical Events on the Province of Bengal - Indostan - 1766

I'm always searching for great findings in our library stacks and rescue them for Jackson Library Special Collection and University Archives (SCUA). The book here presented is from 1766 with original cover in poor condition, leather was degraded and marble paper was very abraded.

Indostan was a term used to designate the region today know by India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bhutan and Nepal.

A total of nine maps gives the reader a broad view of what Bengal Province region looked like in the XVIII century. The book is a great source for the researcher looking into the modern history of the Indian civilization.

Following several conservation procedures in its treatment, we can highlight the new binding in 1/4 calf leather and marble papers. The maps were mended and folded 'per original'. The original sewn endbands were gone, new ones, in linen, were added.

Also new handmade conservation endpapers replaced the ones used when book was originally bound, they were very acidic and did not belonged to the same type of paper used on the printed book.

Here is the Google url shortner link for this book in our Special Collection:

http://goo.gl/hhH65Z

On Exhibit in Jackson Library

We have shared some examples of the variety of problems we encounter here in Preservation Services, as our books are returned to the Access Services desk, or in some cases, hidden in the stacks, we are always prepared for the unexpected.

Bugs like Books.

The Library offers FREE scanning for your digital convenience.  It is so appalling to find books with sections of pages violently torn from its spine.  Simply scan those wanted pages.

 Markers, highlighters, pencil, colored pencil, post-it stickie notes, paper clips, blue ink pens, red ink pens, black ink pens, fountain pens, crayons, pastels, charcoal.

These marking implements cause irreparable damage to books.  Because it is not your personal copy, please don't mark in library materials.

Use your notebook.

 DOGS

REALLY

DON'T

READ.

REALLY.

We have the proof.

Tape of any kind is not kind to books.

It leaves a sticky residue

(just like post-it notes, but worse).

Masking, Strapping, First-Aid, Electrical, Scotch, Duct, Mending,  Paper, 

to name a few of the tapes that have arrived on our books. Sometimes we are unable to undo the damage created by the tape that was meant to fix, yet really did more damage in the end.

Please handle drinks and food with
care if you must eat or drink around library materials.
Accidents can happen so quickly.

Paperclips.

Admittedly, paperclips are quite a clever invention.  They have many uses - some intended - some never within the realm of the creator's imagination.

From the viewpoint of a bookbinder - they were never intended as a bookmark.

They are too big, too metal, too rough on the page.  

Too bad.

We needed some 'les tissus' when we saw these poor pages.