Resources Libraries & Archives
The aim of this resource list is to provide heritage staff who have to work in dangerous situations, with electronic information that might assist them in safeguarding their vulnerable heritage. The resources are presented in English but often other languages can be chosen on the website. Please inform us if any hyperlinks are broken, you would her us and others a lot.
Note that the Resources will be updated from time to time. To follow the changes we suggest you subscribe to RSS Feed.
Important:
The Probative Value of Archival Documents. A Swisspeace essential by Trudy Huskamp Peterson, 2014
Archives for a Peaceful Future. A Swisspeace essential by Sandra Rubli and Briony Jones, 2013
Archives and Dealing with the Past – A Collection of Resources. This collection of resources is compiled by Swiss Peace on an ongoing basis and contains resources in English, French, German and Spanish, while the website selection contains other languages as well.
More:
- Archives Damage Atlas. A tool for assessing damage. This Netherlands’ National Programme for the Preservation of Paper Heritage, is a collaborative effort of different Dutch institutions and is an initiative of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. The purpose of the programme is to engage in the struggle against acidification and other forms of intrinsic paper decay, such as ink corrosion and copper corrosion
- The Australian Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Materials lists the following resources on Family History and Archives:
- Caring for family history documents (State Library of Victoria)
- How do I care for my family archive? (National Archives of Australia)
- How do I protect and handle archival volumes? (National Archives of Australia)
- How do I protect and handle paper files? (National Archives of Australia)
- Caring for your mementos – Documents (Australian War Memorial)
- How do I manage records on thermal papers? (National Archives of Australia)
- Australian War Memorial has a Conservation webpage that provides one-page texts on:
- BA Conservation Lab – this app, by the Manuscripts Museum of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, is freely available and shows how to deal with rare books, manuscripts etc.
- Before Photography. This online (YouTube) Photographic Processes Series by the George Eastman House explains in 12 Chapters the ancient and early photographic processes.
- Bibliography on Islamic Papers, Book Structures, Pigments and their Conservation compiled by Paul Hepworth.
- Blue Roof Designs. Bookbinding Conservation & Preservation This is an online pin-board that will get you to all kinds of interesting training material on bookbinding restoration. Especially the items from the Preservation Advisory Centre are good.
- British Library. Preservation Advisory Centre. The centre published a series of booklets on:
- Basic preservation for library and archive collections
- Building blocks for a preservation policy
- Cleaning books and documents
- Damaged book
- Guidance for exhibiting archive and library materials
- Library and archive storage furniture
- Making the most of funding opportunities for preservation and conservation projects
- Managing pests in paper-based collections
- Managing the digitization of library, archive and museum materials
- Managing the library and archive environment
- Managing the preservation of library and archive collections in historic buildings
- Mould outbreaks in library and archive collections
- Packing and moving library and archive collections
- Photocopying of library and archive materials
- Preservation of photographic material
- Salvaging library and archive collections
- Understanding and caring for bookbindings
- British Library. Preservation Advisory Centre. The centre published the following e-Resources:
- Caring for collections (e-induction)
- Collection care icons
- British Library. Preservation Advisory Centre. The centre published many presentations on:
- Cold storage
- Impact: measuring the impact of collection care
- Getting started in digital preservation
- Dare to share
- Decoding the digital
- Advocacy, evidence, support
- Doing more for less? Forum on skills development
- Strategic challenges for preservation in libraries and archives
- British Library. Preservation Advisory Centre. The centre published many reports/guides. These reports and guides were published by the Preservation Advisory Centre’s predecessor body, the National Preservation Office (NPO):
- The preservation landscape in the UK and Ireland, April 2011
- Report on survey to identify preservation training needs in the UK and Ireland, 2009
- Report on focus groups to identify preservation training needs of RLUK libraries, 2009
- Knowing the need and meeting the need: the state of preservation of the UK’s library and archives collections, 2007
- Knowing the need: a report on the emerging picture of preservation need in libraries and archives in the UK, 2006
- Microfilm quality control inspection, 2006
- Preservation, British Librarianship and Information Work 2001-2005
- A national preservation strategy for library and archive collections in the United Kingdom and Ireland: principles and prospects, 2001
- Guide to preservation microfilming, 2000
- A guide to defects on master negatives microfilms, 2000
- Changing trains at Wigan: digital preservation and the future of scholarship, 2000
- British Library. Preservation Advisory Centre. The centre published many conference papers on:
- 2012 In safe hands? Collections for future generations
- 2011 Impact: redefining the measurement of collection care
- 2010 Dare to share: long-term collections management
- 2010 Decoding the digital: a common language for preservation
- 2009 Doing more with less? Forum on skills development
- 2007 Second life for collections
- 2004 Where shall we put it? Spotlight on collection storage issues
- 2003 Parallel Lives: digital and analog options for access and preservation
- 2002 Managing library and archive collections in historic buildings
- 2000 Caring for collections
- 1999 Training for preservation management: the next step
- 1998 Guidelines for digital imaging
- 1997 Towards the 21st century
- 1996 Preservation and digitization: principles, practice and policies
- 1995 Piecing together the jigsaw: the framework for a national preservation strategy for libraries and archives
- 1992 Microforms in libraries: the untapped resource?
- CAMEO: Conservation & Art Materials Encyclopedia Online. CAMEO is a searchable information resource developed by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. It has recently undergone a major transformation to a wiki based platform. As is inherent in wikis, some databases and pages contained within CAMEO are ‘works in progress’. Pages, data, and information will be added and updated on a continuing basis. The MATERIALS database contains chemical, physical, visual, and analytical information on over 10,000 historic and contemporary materials used in the production and conservation of artistic, architectural, archaeological, and anthropological materials.
- Capture Your Collections 2012 – Small Museum Version. This online course on managing the digitization process is divided into 9 modules , each of which will take between 15 minutes and two hours to complete. It was developed by Canadian Heritage Information Network (CHIN)
- CEN – European Committee for Standarization. The Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage provides standards for characterisation of materials, the processes, practice, methodologies and documentation of conservation of tangible cultural heritage to support its preservation, protection and maintenance and to enhance its significance. It includes characterisation of deterioration processes and environmental conditions for cultural heritage and the products and technologies used for the planning and implementation of their conservation, restoration, repair and maintenance.
- Connecting to Collections. Their goal is to help smaller museums, libraries, archives, and historical societies get answers to collections care questions and quickly locate reliable preservation resources and to help staff members network with their colleagues. This online-community offers different useful services.
In the column Resources the website provides practical links, recordings and discussions:
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- Care for Audio-Visual Materials
- Care for Books
- Care for Ceramics and Glass
- Care for Digital Materials
- Care for Metal
- Care for Natural Science Specimens
- Care for Organic Materials
- Care for Paintings
- Care for Paper and Ephemera
- Care for Plastics
Care for Photographs
- Care for Textiles
- Care for Wood
- About Collections Care and Management
- Increasing Support for Collections Care
- Collections Management
- Manage the Collections Environment
- Prepare for and Respond to Emergencies
On the Webinars page you find the many Online Event recordings.
For online questions you can check in at the Meeting Room
- Conservation of Photographic Materials. Fundamentals of the Conservation of Photographs. Teaching and Learning Resources from the The Getty Conservation Institute (webpage).
- Cultural Heritage Protection Handbook. For protection and treatment of manuscripts. Published by UNESCO in French and Arabic.
- Damage Atlas on Archives. This slim volume by Metamorfoze (2007) is intended as an aid for identifying and classifying damage to archive documents. It facilitates the recognition of different types of damage and the identification of the causes of damage and can also serve as a basis for drawing up a conservation plan.
- Digital Emergency Plan. This plan developed by the Illinois Institute of Technology and the Paul V. Galvin Library is about disaster preparedness, mitigation and digital recovery. Last updated 2012.
- Digital Imaging Basics for Kilgarlin Center Conservation Students. This pdf. file gives an introduction into digital photographic documentation.
- Digital Imaging Tutorial. A splendid brief tool from Cornell University
- Digital Preservation tutorial The MIT Libraries at Cornell University are pleased to be the host institution for the Digital Preservation Management Workshop and Tutorial.
- Directory of Book Donation programs. Originally compiled by Gretchen Walsh and the Book Famine Task Force of the African Studies Association (ASA) (1992). Updated since 2000 by The Book Donations Committee of the Africana Librarians Council of the African Studies Association. It is however a little bit outdated.
- Disaster Preparedness, Response, and Recovery for Inkjet Printed Materials in Museum Collections. This DP3 Video is created as part of IPI’s project funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
- FEMA. How to safe wet books. Four simple steps on saving wet books, including videos.
- Glossary of Archival and Records terminology. In 2012, the Society of American Archivists Council established the Glossary Working Group. Its purpose is to establish and maintain mechanisms and procedures for allowing periodic updates and contributions of new content to A Glossary of Archival and Records Terminology and to ensure that this important resource adheres to the highest quality professional standards.
- Glossary of Common Latin terms found in Imprints of Early Printed Books. This list was created by Robert L. Maxwell, Special Collections and Ancient Languages Librarian, Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University, USA
- Glossary on paper restoration. The Goethe Institut in Hong Kong assembled over 400 specialist terms on paper conservation and restoration. They are listed in English, German, Chinese and Korean. The 3 main aspects of the guide are a book’s structure, material and tools and book binding and conservation.
- Glossary of Book Terms. Developed by the Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association of America this abbreviated glossary covers only the most commonly encountered terms. There may be exceptions to some of our definitions – our main concern is to provide you with general concepts relative to commonly used book jargon.
- Guidelines for microfilming public records. These outline the standards that will ensure your information will be secure and available in the future. They also offer recommendations about specifications that will facilitate the migration of microfilm to a digital format.
- Guidelines for Planning the Digitization of Rare Book and Manuscript Collections. These guidelines published by IFLA (2014) attempt to complement the existing body of knowledge by addressing the specific needs related to planning digitization projects for rare and special collections.
- Guidelines. Mustervorlagen und Hilfestellungen von Verbundsystem Bevölkerungsschutz, Kulturgüterschutz (KGS) der Schwiezerische Behörden. Die KGS Guidelines dienen als Mustervorlagen, Checklisten usw. für Arbeiten im Bereich des Kulturgüterschutzes (though the most of the site is in German, you can change to English, French and Italian but it does not always give the same information). Sie haben die folgenden Guidelines publiziert:
- iBookbinding. Free book binding resources and tutorials. Feel free to browse through instructional posts or watch our collection of video tutorials. Also have a look at their YouTube channel.
- Sewing an Endband on One Core — Video Tutorial
- Smart Archival Boxes, Trays and Portfolios – Video Tutorial (Smithonian Institution Archives)
- Top 10 Box Making Tutorials on the Internet
- IFLA Cataloguing Principles: Statement of International Cataloguing Principles (ICP) and its Glossary. The Statement of International Cataloguing Principles (Saur, 2009) provides the fundamental principles, objectives, and basic rules for cataloguing throughout the world among the world’s rule makers and national cataloguing experts. These principles will be useful for all types of institutions and organizations that deal with bibliographic resources. It has been translated in many languages, for Arabic go to (AR).
- IFLA Principles of Engagement in library-related activities in times of conflict, crisis or disaster (EN). The principles of engagement (2011) advise IFLA and its members on how to monitor areas at risk, advocate for and raise awareness about disaster prevention. There are other languages available here.
- Image Permanence Institute. This famous institute is a recognized organization in the development and deployment of sustainable practices for the preservation of images and cultural property. Have a look at their webpages on:
- Environmental Management
- Testing & Standards
- Image & Information Media
- Store (Storing)
- Resources
- Publications
- Dew Point Calculator
- Papers, Articles & Reports
- Forms of Image Deterioration
- Print & Photography Timeline
- Bibliography
- Videos. Watch the videos on:
- Effect of Humidity Fluctuation on a Rare Book
- DP3 Project Activities
- Sustainable Preservation Strategies
- IPI’s Preservation Management Approach
- IPI’s Monitoring Tools
- IPI’s Preservation Metrics
- Preservation Metrics: Natural Aging
- Preservation Metrics: Metal Corrosion
- Preservation Metrics: Mechanical Damage
- Preservation Metrics: Mold Risk
- Understanding HVAC Systems
- Solutions for Small Institutions
- International Council on Archives (ICA) Resource Centre. The ICA is dedicated to the effective management of records and the preservation, care and use of the world’s archival heritage through its representation of records and archive professionals across the globe. On the resource page, though it does not always seem to work well, search for example for
- Toolkits, Guides
- Manuals and Guidelines
- Standards
- Glossaries
- Directories
- Bibliographies.
- International Donation and Shipment of Books. This page on the website of the American Library Association gives hints and tips for receiving organizations as well as a list of organizations that send books overseas.
- International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) publications. The IFLA is the leading international body representing the interests of library and information services and their users. It is the global voice of the library and information profession. For Guidelines go directly to this website
- Islamic Papers, Book Structures, and Pigments, and their Conservation. A bibliography compiled by and used with the permission of manuscript and textile conservator Paul Hepworth (2007). Published at the Islamic Manuscript Association website.
- Missouri State Archives. The Local Records Preservation Program publishes a collection of fact sheets called Conservation Notes:
- Multilingual Bookbinding and Conservation Dictionary. This project created by Suzy Morgan and Peter Verheyen is an international dictionary of bookbinding and conservation terms, free of use to anyone. The goal of this project is to combine online and in one place, all the known bookbinding and book conservation terminology, in as many languages as possible. Yet, Arabic is missing.
- National Archives of Australia. On their webpage ‘Looking after your Family Archive’ they list two documents that are of interest here:
- Preservation overview
- Preserving paper documents and artworks
- Preserving photographs
- Recovering fire-damaged records
- Recovering flood-damaged records
On their webpage ‘Preserving physical records‘ they published a multitude of document under the headings of Format-specific preservation advice
Archival papers and products
Other advice on physical preservation
On their webpage Preserving archival volumes they explain about many subjects like: What is a volume?, Binding materials, Deterioration, Handling, Copying, Protective packaging, Storage requirements, Storage environment, Pest control, Labelling…
On their webpage Preserving paper files you will learn many secrets of paper files: What is a file?, Deterioration of paper, Handling, Protective packaging, Storage requirements, Storage equipment, Storage environment, Pest control, Labelling, Copying…
On their webpage Managing records on thermal papers you will find much on copy paper: What is a thermal paper?, Early thermal papers, Modern thermal papers, Preservation problems, Printer recommendations, Preservation recommendations, Warning to recipients of fax documents…
National Archives of Australia also published a few documents on digital documents:
- Northeast Document Conservation Center. Resources. The NEDCC’s mission is to improve the conservation efforts of libraries, archives, historical organizations, museums, and other repositories. They provide preservation information to museums, libraries, archives, historical organizations, and other cultural institutions. Especially their Preservation Leaflets are well-known:
- Planning and Prioritizing
- The Environment
- Emergency Management
- Storage and Handling
- Photographs
- Reformatting
- Conservation Procedures
- Preservation of archives in tropical climates. An annotated bibliography by René Teijgeler, The Hague etc. 2001. This is a searchable annotated bibliography not only for archives but also for libraries and to a lesser extend for museums.
- RE-ORG. RE-ORG is platform for endangered museum collections organized by UNESCO and ICCROM. It contributes significantly to museum capacity in ensuring conservation and access to their collections. In particular, the Documentation systems and Museum storage are identified as key areas. The first area should ‘Improve museum skills and provide tools to analyze improve and update their documentation system in order to facilitate the museum activities of conservation, research and education, as well as to prevent theft and illicit traffic.’ And the second area should ‘Improve museum skills and provide tools to analyze and improve conditions of collections in storage in order to ensure their long-term conservation and use.
- Sabre Foundation. This foundation runs an excellent Book Donation Program. It strives to increase access to information resources in developing and transitional societies through large-scale distribution of in-kind donations of new books and other educational materials.
- Selected Works of Peter D Verheyen. Tutorials. This site provides several tutorials and some articles on Bookbinding, Archival Storage and General Library Preservation, Donor Relations, Digitization, Publication Review, and Bookbinding and the Book Arts.
- State Library of Victoria. Conservation Guides. Useful guides such as:
- Storing. Very practical webpages on the website of American Museum of Natural History · PaleoPortal Collections Management on:
- The Islamic Manuscript Association (TIMA). This international non-profit organisation is dedicated to protecting Islamic manuscript collections and supporting those who work with them. It was formed in response to the urgent need to address the poor preservation and inaccessibility of many Islamic manuscript collections around the world. Usefull resources for example on the pages of External Resources
- The Islamic Arts of the Book and their Conservation (bibliography) by David Jacobs. British Library.
- Qatar Digital Library
- Arabic manuscripts. A webpage that leads you further to more pages.
- ‘Islamic Style’ Binding: A Misleading Term Ripe for Further Research. ‘Islamic’ and ‘Western’ are terms used to describe different styles of binding but experts agree that much further research is required to create more meaningful categories by the British Library’s conservator, Flavio Marzo. Includes a short Bookbinding Terminology EN-AR
- Reproduction of an Eighteenth Century Manuscript Binding. Six videos demonstrating conservation techniques for Arabic manuscripts by the British Library’s conservator, Flavio Marzo
- VIDEO: The Love of Books – a Sarajevo Story. War-torn Bosnia in 1992. The city of Sarajevo is besieged and burning. Great art treasures are lost in the flames. Only one library remains. Amid bullets and bombs, a group of book-lovers risk their lives to rescue 10,067 irreplaceable Islamic manuscripts. At stake is a nations history and identity, Hrs 2.20.25, EN subtitles. AR subtitles here
