Libraries, british library research and innovation report 125, british library. Surveys are also a fundamental part of developing a conservation plan for your collections. Workshops in preservation, basic bookbinding, book conservation, book restoration, advanced. A condition report was first produced and possible treatment options were discussed with my supervisor.
Use the descriptions in condition reporting or to support grant applications for environmental controls, storage improvements or conservation treatment. Condition report conservation work record page 3 of 10 \\euser. Services branch, national library of australia, the. About book conservation at nedcc nedccs book conservators treat a wide variety of bound materials, and understand the complex nature of bound volumes. Two volunteer examine books to create a condition report looking for.
Read about book conservation on the house blog from polesden lacey in surrey. Where the height is greater than the width the work is said to be in portrait format. Some bifolio may require gentle tensioning during treatment. Conservation documentation, kathy lechuga, book conservator. Condition reports can be used as part of the survey. A condition report can be prepared as a stand alone document or as part of an early stage in a full commission. Articheck is a digital art condition report tool specially designed for galleries, museums, auction houses, art shippers, and conservators. In the event the ownercustodian authorizes kcpcr to proceed with the recommended treatment. Conservation condition surveys at the british museum conservation condition a best, d worst bl c2 d3 3 high 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 table 14.
Condition report and conservation treatment proposal. In a pinch, you can even use the camera on the device to take photos before, during, and after your treatment. Brief colorbook inserts with shorthand notation were released by the soil conservation service spartanburg, sc, 1961. Last chance to see by douglas adams, a sand county almanac and sketches here and there by aldo leopold, silent spring by r. Conservation survey, condition report and collections care. Come join us for this webinar and learn about the reasons to do a condition report for the items in your collection. Pros and cons of the condition report and survey form hand outs will be discussed. Recently, a 10th century greek codexwhich contains portions of the new testament gospels of luke and johnarrived at our conservation lab, and we, admittedly, are truly impressed. Requires immediate attention by a conservator to prevent further damage or loss.
This beautiful 3dimensional nativity display was treated at book and paper conservation services nearly a year ago, but it seems appropriate to share it now for the holiday season. The conservationcondition report minneapolis institute. United states department of agriculture, soil conservation service, 1985. Nedccs professional conservators also treat architectural plans, parchment, papyrus, wallpaper, and works of art on paper including charcoal drawings and watercolor paintings. Damages or existing condition are noticeable, if not conspicuous in extent. Cci works with heritage institutions and professionals to ensure these heritage collections are preserved and accessible to. Collection surveys identify the conservation needs. Developments of a national conservation treat ments database. Several issues are produced each growing season with the first issue usually appearing in mid to lateapril and the last in late summer. Works on paper will provide you with a written condition report and conservation treatment proposal.
Nedcc performs conservation treatment for photographs, books, prints, documents, maps, and globes. When applied to cultural heritage conservation activities are generally undertaken by a conservator. This note explains the terminology used by conservators in condition reports for paintings. A condition report is a useful tool to inform and quantify repair work or a maintenance programme. For detailed information on examination and condition reporting, refer to cci notes 106 condition reporting paintings. Another thing, my cover separated from the rest of the book after only 2 weeks of use. The job was initially set up as a trial with the aim of relieving conservators of some of the administrative burden and to see whether savings could be made by streamlining the condition reporting process. In august 2007, a post was created for a condition reporting administrator cra within the.
The northeast document conservation center specializes in paper and book conservation. Conservation of rare books art conservation in action. Condition assessment of the jane austen manuscripts. As architects specialising in conservation, careful and thorough analysis of the condition of a building is an essential part of our work. The canadian conservation institute cci, a special operating agency within the department of canadian heritage, advances and promotes the conservation of canadas heritage collections through its expertise in conservation science, treatment and preventive conservation. A condition report may, but does not necessarily make recommendations for conservation.
As part of our conservation and treatment service at our firm, we provide our clients with a condition report and also a condition and treatment report of the furniture or object athand. This effort to document the condition of the artwork is a simple and effective professional procedure that offers greater assurance that the work will be returned in its original condition. Rare book conservation record description and condition report date. Performing a book restoration ranges from the removal of a regular stain or repair of a torn leaf to a complete rehab of its binding material and cover. Care and handling of library and archive materials, preservation training, condition and conservation surveys. An examination and condition report, treatment proposal and treatment report can all be in checklist form. Spectrumrelated resources condition checking and technical assessment. Do you know the condition of the pieces in your collection. This document is a detailed report on the physical condition of the 1507 book of hours, including the structure, materials, wear, alterations, and anomalies of its text block, contents and cover.
Treatment options are based on a complete examination of the artifact, its intended use and how it will be stored. Conservation condition surveys at the british museum. A howto guide for completing condition reports for musuem collections and touring. The australian institute for the conservation of cultural materials website.
Conservation plans provide museums, galleries and libraries with a framework for managing the preservation and conservation of their collections. These detailed reports provide our clients information on the process that is being proposed as well as the actual. The collections include a wide array of material types including paper, parchment, photographs, leather. Conservation condition and treatment proposal for by. If you require mounting or framing for display of your item, we offer conservation quality framing services for works treated in our studio. The full condition report is very detailed, but here are a few. By varying the position of the lights and using magni. You could use these, alongside the condition reporting crib sheet, as. Collections management collections care and conservation condition checking. A good condition report is one of the cornerstones of documentation for any piece in a museum collection. It also assesses the causes of the damage and will estimate whether or not the object is at risk from accelerated deterioration. The book was selected for my project because it has several characteristic types of damage for library bindings, therefore requiring a wide range of conservation treatments. A full written conservation treatment report and photo documentation of the piece before and after treatment is provided with return of the artwork. Whenever possible, a books original materials are integrated into the treatment.
A good condition report is an accurate and informative account of an objects state of preservation at a particular moment in time. Previous field books were released in 1998 schoeneberger et al. Preservation activities vary widely and may include monitoring the condition of items, maintaining the temperature and humidity in collection storage areas, writing a plan in case of emergencies, digitizing items, writing. Conservation and restoration of books, manuscripts. Henry heberts five essential book conservation tools. The australian institute for the conservation of cultural materials website features a aiccm visual glossary of images and definitions used to describe the condition of an object. If there is damage to the work during the exhibition or shipping, a completed condition report with accompanying photographs will make a claim for damaged work much easier for the insurance carrier to accept.
In the books conservation department, we fill out a condition and treatment report that documents the exact condition of a book, when received by the conservator, identifying all. Collection surveys identify the conservation needs of the collections and can also. It will help museum personnel write and maintain accurate condition report records. Conservation condition and treatment proposal, by memoranda book version 1, march 2018 page 8 textblock makeup, condition, and notes for treatment. In the books conservation department, we fill out a condition and treatment report that documents the exact condition of a book, when received. This practical thesis project report contains a conservation survey, condition report and col lections. This form was modified and used while the author was a graduate student at the kilgarlin center, university of texas. At the heart of the library are the collections in all physical and digital formats. Articheck create professional digital art condition reports easily. Conservation may include rehousing in customdesigned enclosures, basic stabilization or complex conservation treatment and rebinding.
Conservation standards are employed and nedcc uses materials that are stable and durable in all work. Glossary for works on paper the fine arts conservancy. Our conservation team cares for the physical collections, which number some 150 million items, from all cultures dating from 3000 bce to the present day. Where the height is less than the width it is called landscape format. In consultation with clients, nedcc strives to achieve a balanced approach to conservation that recognizes the unique value and intended use of. Book restoration is the arduous process of taking a book in disrepair and returning it to as close to its original condition as possible. Condition reports can have multiple functions such as recording the state of an object prior to an exhibition or loan, after exhibition or loan, to assist in collections planning, or as a tool for the treatment of an object. Description and screenshot filemaker pro conservation documentation database.
Some terms commonly used when completing condition reports include. Examples of different condition report forms, including electronic formats, will be examined and discussed. Provide students with a basic outline of a survey report and discuss. The majority of leaves have water damage and some lossfading of text throughout, with severe damage noted.
Workshops in preservation, basic bookbinding, book conservation, book restoration, advanced book conservation training and internships. The primary goal of conservation is to preserve the lifespan of. Recent activity at book and paper conservation services. This will include a general condition assessment, a black and white reference photograph of the item before treatment, an outline of recommended conservation procedures, and a cost estimate. Most severe damage or existing condition has become very advanced. An understanding of the nature of damage in the collection or to an individual object is useful when engaging a professional conservator as it can assist in securing a realistic costing of the. Basic condition reporting connecting to collections care. Book and paper conservation, book repair, rare book conservation, archive conservation, artwork conservation. In the books conservation department, we fill out a condition and treatment report that documents the exact condition of a book, when received by the conservator, identifying all issues that may require attention.
In library and archival science, preservation is a set of activities aimed at prolonging the life of a record, book, or object while making as few changes as possible. The most common type of condition report that nonconservators compile is for an object that is going out or coming in on loan. Number of parts the number of parts which go to make up the item. This rare book belongs to andrews university in berrien springs, michigan, a biblebased university supported by seventhday adventist church. An examination and condition report, treatment proposal and treatment. Preservation library and archival science wikipedia. Condition reporting is a valuable tool for managing collections.
There are many reasons to complete a good report yet this step often gets skipped. The journey started as a conservation technician conducting a condition and conservation needs survey of 178 middle eastern mss dating from the 12 th 19 th centuries. A blank printable form for documenting condition and treatment of books. A condition report is generated per object and details the type and extent of any damage. The conservation and restoration of books, manuscripts, documents and ephemera is an activity dedicated to the preservation and protection of items of historical and personal value made primarily from paper, parchment, and leather. Public library, art gallery and museum of south australia. You could use these, alongside the condition reporting crib sheet, as templates for your own museum condition report.