Preservation Exhibit - September 2000-February 2001

* This exhibit is no longer on display *

	THE PRESERVATION DEPARTMENT AT WORK The role of the Preservation Department at the University of Chicago is to ensure the preservation of books and journals in the collection. This involves repairing any damaged material as well making arrangements to have new material purchased as replacements. In addition the Preservation Department works to preventing damage before it occurs. For example, new books, which arrive, are assessed for "durability" in the stacks. If a book is deemed to be "fragile" (such as a paperback that does not have a supportive or protective cover), then it is sent to be bound (given a hard cover) before being placed on the shelf. This will increase the book's life considerably.

	CLEANING There is no adequate means available to "erase" highlighting or ink marks on paper. However, preservation staff will clean what they can, for example rust stains from paperclips (that were used as bookmarkers), or cola stains. None of the techniques are foolproof and in some cases staff must try various different techniques. Sometimes the book can be successfully cleaned - and sometimes not. Some of the tools for cleaning include sandpaper, hydrogen peroxide, potassium permanganate, hexane, rubber cement thinner, citric acid, lemon juice, oxalic acid, denatured alcohol, drafting brush and a plastic eraser.

	MICROFILMING is a "(1) transparent flexible film used for the photographic reproduction of documents in reduced size. (2) Photographic reproductions on this film that can be viewed with a reading device or enlarged to make readable prints" (Swartzburg, Susan G. Preserving Library Materials: A Manual. New Jersey: Scarecrow Press, 1980). Microfilming is often used to preserve material that is physically deteriorating. Aging, heavy usage, type of paper used and extensive damage can cause deterioration. Microfilming documents ensures a longer life span.

	ELECTRONIC RESOURCES As Internet technology grows so does the amount of information that can be provided in an electronic format. While books like Joseph McCabe's The Story of Evolution and Shakespeare's Hamlet are available electronically via the Internet - it has not yet become standard practice in libraries to digitize books which have been damaged due to misuse or deterioration. Other techniques are employed to ensure that the print copy is kept in the stacks for use. And while full-text journal articles are routinely made available electronically by various publishers, books, in most cases, are not.

	PHASE BOXES Often material which is in poor condition or damaged can be bound with a hardcover to provide extra protection. However, in some cases the material has undergone excessive damage or is too fragile to undergo the binding procedure. In these cases phaseboxes are used. Phaseboxes enclose a book or journal that is in poor condition and might be further damaged if placed on the shelf unprotected.

	BINDING Is the "structural materials, such as thread and glue, that hold a book together, and the attachment of a cover which may be made of any number of materials" (Swartzburg, Susan G. Preserving Library Materials: A Manual. New Jersey: Scarecrow Press, 1980). As you may have noticed, journals that are older than the current year are bound on a regular basis. This is a standard practice in most libraries. They are bound to hold the various issues together and to protect them from continued usage. Books can also be bound and re-bound. This occurs when the original cover has been damaged, the entire book is deteriorating due to heavy usage, or because the book is simply "flimsy". Binding provides an extra level of protection and thus ensures that the book or journal can be used for years to come.

For More Information: about exhibits at the John Crerar Library, please contact Barbara Kern
at 773-702-8717 or bkern@midway.uchicago.edu.