Special Collections on a Special Collections on a ShoestringShoestring

Lynne M. ThomasLynne M. ThomasCARLI Preservation Working CARLI Preservation Working

GroupGroup

Curatorial DecisionsCuratorial Decisions Every collection is different (and that’s ok).Every collection is different (and that’s ok). What is rare to me is not rare to you.What is rare to me is not rare to you. Selection is part of preservation.Selection is part of preservation.

Have a plan.Have a plan. Collection development guidelinesCollection development guidelines ACRL Guidelines for transfer:ACRL Guidelines for transfer:

http://www.ala.org/ala/acrl/acrlstandards/selectransfer.cfmhttp://www.ala.org/ala/acrl/acrlstandards/selectransfer.cfm What is the purpose of the collection?What is the purpose of the collection?

You can’t take everything. Don’t try to.You can’t take everything. Don’t try to.

Curatorial DecisionsCuratorial DecisionsWhat makes items eligible for Special What makes items eligible for Special

Collections?Collections? DateDate ScarcityScarcity ProvenanceProvenance ConditionCondition Market ValueMarket Value

Curatorial Decisions: DateCuratorial Decisions: Date Before 1800 worldwideBefore 1800 worldwide Before 1865 in United StatesBefore 1865 in United States Before 1890 West of the Mississippi Before 1890 West of the Mississippi

RiverRiver Regional/Global special collections Regional/Global special collections

need their own guidelinesneed their own guidelines Your mileage may varyYour mileage may vary

Curatorial Decisions: Curatorial Decisions: ScarcityScarcity

Do your homework:Do your homework: How many extant copies exist?How many extant copies exist? Following the WorldCat crowdFollowing the WorldCat crowd Limited editions and “limited editions”Limited editions and “limited editions”

Curatorial Decisions: Curatorial Decisions: ProvenanceProvenance

Who owned it?Who owned it? Did they write in it?Did they write in it? Is that important toIs that important to your your collections? collections? All autographed books are not alikeAll autographed books are not alike

Curatorial Decisions: Curatorial Decisions: ConditionCondition

Condition is the single biggest factor in Condition is the single biggest factor in market value.market value.

Special Collections as a “dumping Special Collections as a “dumping ground” for old items that can’t be ground” for old items that can’t be repaired.repaired.

Tape is evil. Mold is worse.Tape is evil. Mold is worse. Have Have firmfirm guidelines about what you guidelines about what you

will say “no” to.will say “no” to.

Curatorial Decisions: Market Curatorial Decisions: Market ValueValue

Find a ballpark valueFind a ballpark value Ebay, Bookfinder.com, ABEBooks, ABAA.orgEbay, Bookfinder.com, ABEBooks, ABAA.org Auction and bookseller catalog listingsAuction and bookseller catalog listings American Book Prices CurrentAmerican Book Prices Current

Have a baseline value for automatic Have a baseline value for automatic transfer. transfer.

Adjust baseline value periodically for Adjust baseline value periodically for market conditions and inflation.market conditions and inflation.

Curatorial Decisions: Curatorial Decisions: PreservationPreservation

Preservation vs. ConservationPreservation vs. Conservation Know your options and your budget (or Know your options and your budget (or

lack thereof)lack thereof) Know your guidelines, and be willing to Know your guidelines, and be willing to

reject items that don’t meet themreject items that don’t meet them Account for human intervention (divine Account for human intervention (divine

or otherwise)or otherwise) Keep perspectiveKeep perspective

Preservation OptionsPreservation Options Ideal world vs. Reality Ideal world vs. Reality In-house or on-siteIn-house or on-site Off-siteOff-site How do I pay for this?!How do I pay for this?! Declaring an item “dead”Declaring an item “dead”

Ideal world vs. RealityIdeal world vs. Reality Ideal world:Ideal world:

Controlled environmentControlled environment No food or drink!No food or drink! Nobody touches the books but ME, buster…Nobody touches the books but ME, buster…

RealityReality Can we have our party here?Can we have our party here? Why can’t I have my bottle of water?Why can’t I have my bottle of water? Can I touch that book?Can I touch that book?

Preservation OptionsPreservation Options Inpatient care Inpatient care

Environmental controlEnvironmental control Staff and patron educationStaff and patron education StabilizationStabilization Minor RepairsMinor Repairs

Outpatient care: time to see a Outpatient care: time to see a specialist!specialist!

Environmental ControlEnvironmental Control Turn off the lights!Turn off the lights! Keep your temperature and humidity Keep your temperature and humidity

as stable as possibleas stable as possible Make friends with your building Make friends with your building

services folks services folks

Staff and Patron EducationStaff and Patron Education Model good behaviorModel good behavior Shelve and Unshelve properlyShelve and Unshelve properly Book props and book weightsBook props and book weights Photocopying and scanning practicesPhotocopying and scanning practices

Preservation photocopiesPreservation photocopies Digitization projectsDigitization projects

Cool! Can we touch that?Cool! Can we touch that?

Inpatient CareInpatient CareStabilization: The most bang for your buckStabilization: The most bang for your buck

Tying/BoxingTying/Boxing EnvelopesEnvelopes EncapsulationEncapsulation The magic words: “Acid-free”The magic words: “Acid-free”

Minor RepairsMinor Repairs GlueingGlueing Tipping-in of single leavesTipping-in of single leaves

Outpatient careOutpatient care Major repairs: re-backing, re-bindingMajor repairs: re-backing, re-binding Full conservation treatment: don’t try Full conservation treatment: don’t try

this at home!this at home! Finding a conservatorFinding a conservator

American Institute for Conservation American Institute for Conservation (AIC) guidelines: (AIC) guidelines: http://aic.stanford.edu/public/select.htmlhttp://aic.stanford.edu/public/select.html

How do I pay for this?How do I pay for this? Find a donor/sponsor or a FriendFind a donor/sponsor or a Friend Talk to your administrationTalk to your administration Get a grantGet a grant

IMLS http://www.imls.gov/IMLS http://www.imls.gov/ NEH Preservation assistance grantsNEH Preservation assistance grantshttp://www.neh.gov/grants/guidelines/pag.htmlhttp://www.neh.gov/grants/guidelines/pag.html NEH Grants for Stabilizing Humanities NEH Grants for Stabilizing Humanities

CollectionsCollectionshttp://www.neh.gov/grants/guidelines/stabilizationhttp://www.neh.gov/grants/guidelines/stabilization.html.html Guide to Foundation Grants for PreservationGuide to Foundation Grants for Preservationhttp://www.loc.gov/preserv/foundtn-grants.htmlhttp://www.loc.gov/preserv/foundtn-grants.html

When it’s gone…it’s goneWhen it’s gone…it’s gone You can’t save everything. Really. You can’t save everything. Really.

Brittle booksBrittle books MoldMold

““Rare” is not the same as “Unique” Rare” is not the same as “Unique” Can it be replaced if it can’t be repaired?Can it be replaced if it can’t be repaired? Alternative formattingAlternative formatting

Preservation photocopiesPreservation photocopies DigitizationDigitization

Questions?Questions?