BMI Management Conference May 5, 2008

From Conception to Protection:The Role of the Preservation Directorate at the

Library of Congress

Jeanne Drewes

Library of Congress

Preservation Directorate

LC MISSION:

To make its resources available and useful to the Congress and the American people and to sustain and preserve a universal collection of knowledge and creativity for future generations.

By Dianne van der Reyden, Director

Approximately 134 Million Items are in LC’s Collections; 10,000 added daily

Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln by Nicholas H. Shepherd "Migrant Mother" by Dorothea Lange

“First flight” by John T. Daniels

“The White House” - South front by B H Latrobe “The White House” - East front by B H Latrobe

Adams Building

Madison Building

• Collect, preserve and provide access to knowledge;

• Spark imagination and creativity; and

• Recognize and celebrate human achievement.

• From Conception– Kluge Center– Poet Laureate– Center for the Book

• To Protection – Copyright Registration– Preserving Collections– Research in Materials Science

IPO NDL

LBN LAW CR CRS

Architect of the Capitol

Congress

Scholars & Professional Colleagues

General Public, Libraries, Archives, Schools

SOME CLIENTS

Assess & Prepare items for use:1Repair2Strengthen3Mass Deacidify4Bind5Reformat

Stabilize environment to ensure longevity:1Assess2House3Store4Monitor5Salvage

Divisions and

Collections

EX. of PD SERVICES

Research material science to improve knowledge & care:1Characterize2Age3Innovate & test solutions4Develop specifications5Disseminate findings

MissionPRESERVATION DIRECTORATE MISSION:

To assure long-term, uninterrupted access to the intellectual content of the Library's collections, either in original or reformatted form.

Approximately 90 million items in special collections; Preservation Directorate Staff = 90

The Huejotzingo Codex , 1531, G&M

“MacaroniMachine”

By ThomasJefferson,

1787, MSS

“Star Spangle Banner” by

Francis Scott Key, 1814,

MUS

Ashkenazi Megillat Esther, 14-15th century, AMEDTravel Journal by William Speiden, 1864, MSS

Traditional Materials

Mass Deacidification Paper Strengthening

Multispectral Imaging

Collections Care Section

Binding and Collections Care Division

Box Making

Automatic Box-Maker for innovative housing of new & mixed media

GENERAL COLLECTIONS:

Preservation Issues for Books • Binding

– ANSI /NISO/ LBI Library Binding Standard, Z39.78-2000.– LBI

• Paper– ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992, Permanence of Paper for

Publications and Documents in Libraries and Archives.– Deacidification

• Image– IPI testing– Standards

Types of Standards

• Definitions

• Test methods

• Specifications

• Standard practices

Commercial Binding Preparation

Image on the Page

• Pertinent properties– Color fade (separately and in combination)

– Color balance shift

– Color migration (laterally and to adjacent surfaces

• Image StandardsTest methods required forTest methods required for

Dark stabilityDark stabilityLight stabilityLight stabilityWater-fastnessWater-fastnessAir pollution susceptibilityAir pollution susceptibilityHumidity sensitivityHumidity sensitivity

• Dr. James Billington, Librarian of Congress

• Dr. Deanna Marcum, Associate Librarian of Congress for Library Services

• Robert Dizard, Deputy Associate Librarian of Congress for Library Services

• Dianne van der Reyden, Director,

Preservation Directorate

Acknowledgements