Contributions to the 5th AICCM Book, Paper and Photographic Materials Symposium. Editors: Prue McKay and Alana Treasure. Canberra, ACT: AICCM (Inc.), 2008.
Abstract
The State Library of Victoria’s permanent exhibition, Mirror of the World: books & ideas opened in 2005. Before this exhibition, the SLV’s conservators were accustomed to assessing material for exhibitions of three to four months duration and had considered the impact of displaying books open for this duration negligible in most cases; provided that, in addition to the usual environmental considerations, two important conditions were met: firstly, that books should not be over-opened and secondly, that they must be appropriately supported by customised book cradles. Mirror of the World acted as a catalyst for changing the attitudes of conservators from a cautious approach to one more accepting of open display of open books for up to twelve months. The book monitoring project, which collected data on the effects of longer term display on books, was first presented at the 4th AICCM/NZPCG Paper, Book and Photographic Materials Symposium in Wellington, New Zealand, 2006. This presentation will discuss the results of the monitoring project, and consider how attitudes about long term display and consequent display decisions have been influenced as an outcome of the project.
Download Conclusions from a monitoring project on the effect of longer term display on books [Adobe Acrobat PDF – 2.77 MB]