Modern information carriers encompass optical discs (CDs and DVDs) and magnetic media such as tapes (audio, video, computer) and disks. These carriers differ from traditional materials in that the information they contain cannot be viewed directly, it can only be accessed by playing the carriers on a machine. And for the carriers to play properly, they must be in relatively good condition. This Technical Bulletin discusses the myriad types of damage that can occur to modern information carriers due to age deterioration, poor storage conditions, or poor handling practices, and presents various remedies to restore these carriers to a playable condition.
Symposium 2003 - Preservation of Electronic Records: New Knowledge and Decision-making was held in Ottawa, Canada, from September 15 to 18, 2003. Hosted by the Canadian Conservation Institute, the Library and Archives Canada, and the Canadian Heritage Information Network, the symposium aimed to increase awareness of the issues surrounding the preservation of electronic records by bringing expert and leading-edge opinions to a large audience including small and medium-sized archives, libraries, and museums. The program was based on the chronological decisions that need to be made as electronic records come into a heritage institution, and covered broad subject areas such as value criteria, authenticity criteria, factors to be considered in developing a preservation strategy, preservation strategies for information content, and media knowledge (deterioration, storage, longevity, disaster recovery, etc.). This book of postprints contains the complete text of all papers presented at the symposium (in the language of presentation) along with abstracts in both English and French for each one. It will be useful for anyone with electronic records in their collections.
This book discusses the chemical and physical characteristics and the corrosion products of nine common metals: aluminum, copper, gold, iron, lead, nickel, silver, tin, and zinc. It answers questions about these metals and their corrosion problems indoors, outdoors, and in archaeological settings, and is intended as a reference for conservators and conservation scientists: a place to refresh their memory, get started reading the literature, or look up alloys, plating combinations, and particular corrosion problems encountered with metals in museums. It will be a ideal tool for all heritage professionals who survey, care for, or treat metals, or who come across metals during the course of their work. (The French version will be available later this fall.)
This book attempts to define the key airborne pollutants for indoor museum environments and provide some basic tools to assess the risk to collections exposed to these pollutants. It also establishes guidelines for control strategies that give flexible, pragmatic solutions and provides a simple tool for cost-benefit analyses that can fulfil the principles and policy of individual museums. It will be an ideal reference for anyone (e.g. museum directors, building and collection managers, conservation professionals, material scientists, exhibit designers, HVAC engineers, indoor air consultants, and architects) involved in making decisions regarding the preservation of collections.
Conservation treatments often involve setting parts of an object in position and applying pressure to them in a gentle and controlled manner. The clamping solutions that have been devised for this purpose are as varied as the practitioners themselves. Yet the art of applying pressure still remains a relatively unexplored topic in the conservation literature. This publication addresses the subject with numerous examples of pressure application devices and procedures drawn from the wide experience of the authors and their colleagues in the museum profession. Illustrated with 81 line drawings and photographs, this book will be a useful resource for anyone undertaking conservation treatments that require joining things together or reshaping them.
Mould infestation in heritage collections can damage artifacts and may pose a health risk to individuals who work with these collections. This Technical Bulletin presents information on mould morphology, prevention of mould growth, actions to take should mould occur, and health effects relating to mould exposure. It informs the reader how to remove mould growth from artifacts and it describes the appropriate personal protective equipment to wear when working in a mould-contaminated environment or when working with mould-infested artifacts.
This bulletin summarizes some procedures for the disaster recovery of modern information carriers such as CDs, magnetic diskettes, and magnetic tapes following immersion in tap water, seawater, and dirty water. Procedures are also given for dealing with media that have hard-to-remove deposits on them or have been exposed to heat, dust/dirt, mould, and shock. These procedures are a compilation of information from the few case histories published, recommendations made by experts in the field, and research performed at the Canadian Conservation Institute. The information in this bulletin represents one piece of a comprehensive disaster plan; for disasters to be handled effectively, other key elements such as those dealing with disaster preparedness also need to be in place.
This second edition provides up-to-date advice, ideas, and technical information on the mounting of museum objects for conservators, display technicians, designers, and other museum workers. Topics covered include reasons for supporting objects with mounts, recommended stable materials, tips on the choice of materials and their working properties, and methods for measuring artifacts. Objects with custom-made mounts are illustrated with photographs and line drawings, accompanied by a full description of each mount, the materials and tools used to make it, and the way it was made. A bibliography is also included. New in this second edition are technical updates on recommended materials, further information on mount design, full descriptions of three additional custom-made mounts, and more pictures of good mounts.
Co-published with the Centre de conservation du Québec.