Putting It Into Practice

Managing Conservation Treatment

Choosing a Conservator

Since professional conservators usually specialize in a particular type of collection (e.g., photographs, books, art on paper, paintings, furniture), and because qualified conservators may have been trained in various ways, it can sometimes be difficult to find the right conservator for your treatment project. When choosing a conservator, you will want to get information about the conservator's training, experience, and professional involvement.

Education and Experience

Conservators receive their training through graduate-level degree programs (two to three years of coursework, plus an additional year of hands-on experience) or through lengthy apprenticeships. Apprenticeship is particularly common in book conservation, since formal educational programs in that field are limited.

Whatever the type of training, gaining hands-on experience in treating materials in their chosen specialty is an important part of a conservator's education. When choosing a conservator, be sure to ask about the conservator's practical experience, and obtain client and peer references.

Professional Membership

There are a number of respected professional organizations for conservators, including the American Institute for Conservation (AIC), the International Institute for Conservation (IIC), and various regional organizations. Membership in such organizations can indicate a conservator's interest in keeping up with current developments in the field.

Locating a Conservator

There are several ways to locate a qualified conservator. Getting recommendations from other institutions with similar collections is always a good idea. You should also consult the American Institute for Conservation's online guide to conservation services. This resource does not endorse specific conservators, but will provide you with a list of professional conservators in your area, along with their specialties. There are also a number of regional conservation centers that employ conservators in different specialties to provide conservation services. See the Regional Alliance for Preservation for information about regional centers.

If you are located in an isolated area, you may need to get referrals from a broad geographic area. Regional centers and many conservators have experience in packing, shipping, and transporting fragile collections and can provide advice.