AICCM Symposium 2006, Conservation of Paper, Books and Photographic Materials. Post-prints and Posters. 19-21 April 2006, Wellington, New Zealand. p278-293
Abstract
From 2004 to 2005 the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s Conservation Unit undertook a conservation needs survey of the Rare Book and Special Collections Library’s backlog of uncatalogued rare book materials. The survey evaluated the binding structure; level of physical, biological and chemical damage; and unique features of more than 4,000 randomly sampled pieces from the collection. The aim was to gather information to aid in planning for the integration of immediate preservation actions with future cataloguing projects, and to better direct future conservation efforts. This paper details the development of the survey, interprets select results and suggests methodologies for assessing other rare collections and approaches to integrating the identified immediate preservation needs with cataloguing and processing projects.