Putting It Into Practice

Managing Conservation Treatment

Managing Treatment Projects

Planning a Collections Conservation Program

Because of the complexities of planning such a program, management issues can only be touched on here (see Additional Resources for more information). Issues to address include the following: where in the institutional structure the collections conservation program will be located; what staff will perform collections conservation activities; how staff will be trained; what space and equipment will be provided; what repair procedures will be performed (simple or complex?); and how damaged collections will be identified. The answers to these questions will depend in large part on the size and financial resources of your institution.

  See a Collections Conservation/In-House Repair Checklist (PDF, 232k) for managing in-house repair activities.

Planning Special Collections Treatment

As with other reformatting and treatment options, organization and funding are crucial. Who will plan and manage treatment projects? A cooperative relationship between the project manager and the conservator will be very important. How will you fund the project(s)? Will you apply for grants? Do you need a collections survey to determine treatment needs?

If you are applying for a grant, items will have to be taken or sent to a conservator for a detailed examination; in some instances, a conservator may be willing to come to your institution. The conservator will produce treatment proposals, perhaps with options, which you will incorporate into your grant application.

Once you have funding, you will sign and return the treatment proposal. As treatment proceeds, unexpected changes in the treatment plan are sometimes needed (for example, if the object does not respond as expected to the proposed treatment). The conservator will consult the project manager if changes are required. When the material is returned, the conservator will provide a treatment report describing what was done to the item(s), which must be retained permanently.

  See a Professional Conservation Treatment Checklist (PDF, 228k) for managing conservation treatment activities.

Planning for Library Binding

Binders should be members of the Library Binding Institute (LBI), which is the primary membership organization for library binders. To become a certified member of LBI, binders must undergo a certification process in which their work is inspected to ensure that it meets the Library Binding standard. The binder must pledge to adhere to the standard when undertaking work to which the standard applies.

Your institution should have a contract, or at least an informal agreement, with its library binder that specifies the institution's preferences for leaf attachment and the other binding issues noted in the Exploring section of this session. Books returned by the binder must be individually inspected for quality of work and adherence to these specifications.

  See a Commercial Library Binding Checklist (PDF, 228k) for managing library binding activities.