Publications

Rhodes, Barbara J. Copy pencil. In: Media & techniques of works of art on paper New York: Conservation Center of the Institute of Fine Arts, 1999

----------. Before Photocopying: The Art and History of Mechanical Copying, 1780-1938 (New Castle DE: Oak Knoll Press and Heraldry Bindery, 1999). (with William W. Streeter)

----------. 18th and 19th century European and American paper binding structures: a case study of paper bindings in the American Museum of Natural History Library. The Book and Paper Group Annual Vol. 14:51-62, 1995.

----------. Consolidation of leather bookbindings with Parylene ‘N’: some observations. Leather Conservation News Vol. 10:30-33, 1994.

----------. Hell’s own brew: home book renovation from nineteenth century receipts to today’s kitchen chemistry; its legacy for preservation. The Paper Conservator Vol. 15:59-70, 1991.

----------. Preservation at the AMNH Library. Conservation Administration News No. 44:3, 27-29, January, 1991.

----------, ed.. Hold everything! A storage and housing information sourcebook (general editor) New York: METRO, 1990.

----------, ed.. Hell and high water: A disaster information sourcebook New York: METRO, 1988.

----------. The Columbia conservation internship. Conservation Administration News No. 28:9, 28, January, 1987.

Gennett, Mary. Conservation of research library collections at the American Museum of Natural History. Science and Technology Libraries Spring, 1987.

Root, Nina J. Preserving and maintaining museum library collections. In: Museum librarianship John C. Larsen, ed. Hamden, CT: Library Professional Publications, 1985.

Haas, Pamela. The conservation of photographic collections. Curator Vol. 26:89-106, 1983.

Proper Care of Library Books

Shelving and Handling Books

• Do not leave books on shelves or carts with the foredge down. This damages the spine and joints.
• Leave books upright and firmly supported on shelf when shelving or retrieving. Use bookends. (Library staff: If there is not one there, get one.)
• Do not allow books to protrude over the edges of the shelves. They should be set back about 1." Stack oversize books neatly on bottom shelves. They should not be sticking out over the shelf.
• Never pull a book off the shelf by the headcap. Pull from the spine with your fingers on the boards. Push remaining books together so that they support each other.
• Before moving compact shelving ranges, check to make sure aisle is clear.
• Use red string to tie up books with the following types of damage: broken joints, loose boards, broken sewing, detached or partially detached spine.
• Do not remove shrink-wrap; bring it to Library reference and technical services staff, who have special knives to do this without damaging the wrapped material.
• Please handle library materials with clean hands.

Processing and Using Library Materials

• Do not crack open the spine of a tightly bound book. This kind of damage usually cannot be repaired without extensive intervention.
• Do not use books or journals as a support for writing; this leaves indentations.
• If you must place books in a pile, put the largest ones at the bottom; do not stack big books on top of small ones. Do not pile books more than 3 or 4 deep.
• Never stick post-it notes on library materials; they leave an adhesive residue. Use a plain piece of acid-free paper for notes and place markers instead.
• Do not attach notes or other items to library materials with paper clips or rubber bands. Paper clips cause dents and tears and become rusty; rubber bands turn sticky and then hard (they also contain sulfur, which can cause chemical damage).
• Do not attempt to "fix" library materials with tape or glue. Most tapes have adhesives which deteriorate with age and can cause damage. They also form a hard edge along which weak papers will break. Many office-type glues turn hard or brown with age, and are very difficult to remove.
• Do not use ink or ballpoint pen to mark a book, document, or photograph (exception: pens provided by the Library conservator for specific purposes). If an identifying mark must be made, use a No. 2 pencil and write lightly.
• Do not use self-adhesive labels on leather covers or on pre-1860 cloth or paper covers, or on highly decorated modern covers. Use an acid-free flag, or consult the conservator for an alternative.
• Always use acid-free envelopes, boxes, paper, etc. for storage or enclosure of library materials.

Photocopying

• Follow Library photocopying policy when making copies for yourself or others.
• Do not photocopy rare books, brittle books or documents, colored plates, fold-out sheets, or books with broken spines or loose pages.
• Use one of the copiers designed for books when copying bound materials. Copy one page at a time, with the rest of the book supported off the platen with one hand.
• Do not defeat the purpose of the copier's design by opening the book flat on the glass. Do not press down on the spine of the book when copying.

Preserving Personal Books and Papers

The key to extending the life of your books and papers is not necessarily in repairing them, but in preventing damage from occurring. More than anything else, preservation involves control of storage conditions, plus regularly checking through your collections to make sure no harmful situations have arisen (such as mold or insect infestations). If proper conditions are maintained, books and papers may last several times as long as they would have otherwise.

Storage Conditions to Avoid

• High humidity. Paper-based materials survive best in low or moderate relative humidity (RH). It also helps to keep the humidity as stable as possible. The AMNH Library keeps its books and documents at about 40-45% RH, but this may not be easy to achieve for a private collection. It is important to try to keep the RH below 65%, as after even a few days of humidity this high in a warm room (70 degrees Fahrenheit or above), mold may develop. Warm, humid conditions also encourage insect infestations. Books and papers should not be stored against outside walls, on damp floors, or anywhere they might be exposed to water. Basements and garages are usually not safe storage places for these materials.

• Heat. High temperatures can be very harmful to paper, as they hasten its chemical deterioration. Generally speaking, the rate of this deterioration theoretically doubles for every 10 degrees Fahrenheit rise in temperature. The temperature in non-air-conditioned attics and garages in the summer months may well be high enough to damage books and papers.

• Light. All light (especially sunlight and fluorescent light) is damaging to books and paper; it causes fading and contributes to some chemical deterioration. Typical results of light damage include fading, browning or other discoloration of pictures and documents hung on walls, and fading of book spines. Some materials are more sensitive than others, and will change noticeably in a short time if kept in bright light.

Materials to Avoid

• Rubber cement. This turns brown after a few years, and stains the paper; as the adhesive ages, it also loses its ability to hold things together.

• Adhesive tapes. Any self-adhesive tape, such as "Magic Mending" tape or drafting tape may cause serious problems over time. For instance, mended paper which is weak may break along the edge of the tape used to repair a tear. The adhesives used can sink into the paper, staining it, and blurring some writing inks.

• Rubber bands. These turn sticky, then hard. They will eventually break or worse, stick to whatever they are in contact with.

• Paper clips. These make dents in paper, and can tear it when removed. They also rust.

• Vinyl. This type of plastic is chemically unstable, and should be avoided when choosing notebooks, scrapbooks, and photograph albums. Inert plastics such as polyester (Mylar D, or Melinex 516), Polypropylene, and polyethylene are much safer to use.

General Tips

• Take steps to protect your materials from damage by fire, water, high temperatures and humidity, light, dust and soot, insects and rodents.

• Use "archival quality" (acid-free, alkaline buffered, or inert) boxes, envelopes, file folders, plastic page protectors, etc. to store your documents. (See list of suppliers.) Keep acidic papers such as newsprint away from other materials.

• Handle fragile materials carefully. Do not allow books on shelves to lean; once they become warped it is often impossible to return them to their original shape. Do not use books as coasters, doorstops, tables, or flower presses.

• For those items requiring conservation treatment, consult a qualified conservator. You can find one in your area by calling the Conservation Services Referral System of the Foundation of the American Institute for Conservation, or by writing to the American Institute for Conservation, 1717 K St., N.W., Suite 301, Washington, DC, 20006. Phone: (202)452-9545, Fax: (202)452-9328.

Suppliers of Archival Materials

Below is a list of companies which supply products for archival storage of books, documents, and photographs. This list does not constitute an endorsement of any company by the Museum or the Library. Catalogs are available from all of these suppliers. Not everything in these catalogs should be used on items of permanent value. If in doubt, especially about an adhesive product, consult a conservation professional, who can advise you on appropriate materials for various purposes.

Archival Products
P.O.Box 1413
Des Moines, IA 50305-1413
(515)262-3191 (800)526-5640
FAX (888)220-2397
E-mail: info@archival.com

Conservation Resources International
8000-H Forbes Place
Springfield, VA 22151
(800)634-6932
FAX (703)321-0629

Gaylord Bros.
PO Box 4901
Syracuse, NY 13221-4901
(800)448-6160
FAX (800)272-3412

Hollinger Corp.
PO Box 8360
Fredericksburg, VA 22404
(703)898-7300 (800)634-0491
FAX (703)898-8073 Toll-free FAX (800)947-8814

Light Impressions
PO Box 787
Brea, CA 92822-0787
(800)828-6216
FAX (800)828-5539

TALAS
568 Broadway
New York, NY 10012-9989
(212)219-0770
FAX (212)219-0735
(catalog is not free)

University Products, Inc.
517 Main St.
PO Box 101
Holyoke, MA 01041-0101
(800)628-1912
FAX (800)532-9821