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Posted by: Meghan Hill
The following is a guest post by Anna Darden, intern in the Preservation Research & Testing Division (PRTD). Not so long ago, LeVar Burton graced TV screens on Reading Rainbow with his emphasis on building reading comprehension and instilling a life-long love of reading for me and others in my generation. Reading is usually reserved …
Posted in: Heritage Science, Internships, Pigments, Preservation
Posted by: Meg Gray
Luke Ayers reminisces about his summer internship in General Collections Care(GCCS) where he learned techniques on how to care for, preserve, and repair books in both GCCS and the Rare Book Division.
Posted in: Collections Care, Conservation, Internships, Preservation, Rare Books and Special Collections
Posted by: K.F. Shovlin
As we celebrate 125 years of binding at the Library of Congress, our final chapter in this blog series looks at the changes in binding and the industry with the rise of the digital age. The past 40 plus years brought the Binding Office to a new home, created a new partner, and finally, gave it a new name that is more forward looking than past. With quotes from the people that were there and made it happen, we share this retrospective conclusion, on the 125th anniversary of the office first opening its doors.
Posted in: Care and Handling, Collections Care, Preservation
Posted by: Kristina Grooms
For over twenty years, the Library used the same system to manage the data for offsite inventory and it was time for a change. The Collections Management Division spent the last three years helping to design and implement a brand new inventory management system (IMS). The new system, FETCH, was brought online this past spring and has been used daily ever since. Read more about the how Library staff helped develop a new system “built from the ground up” to manage our collection materials.
Posted in: Collections Management, Collections Storage, Offsite Storage
Posted by: Megan Zins
Summer intern Oliver Ding discusses working with the Preservation Research & Testing Division in the heart of Washington D.C. Through the American Chemical Society’s Project SEED, Oliver gained access to a Fourier-transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR), dabbled with lignin spot tests, and explored the complexity of colorants on paper.
Posted in: Events & Outreach, Heritage Science, Internships, Tangible Media, Tools of the Trade
Posted by: Meg Gray
This year the Conservation Division welcomed a brand new addition – a digital box cutter! This tool is crucial to creating collection enclosures in a fast and efficient manner. Farewell, old boxmaker, you served well, and welcome to our newest conservation tool.
Posted in: Collections Care, Conservation, Preservation, Tools of the Trade
Posted by: Amelia Parks
It’s not very often that you have the chance to look at 99 copies of the same book. However, among the Library’s vast collections are an extraordinary 99 copies of Ptolemy’s Geographia, divided between the Geography and Map Division and Rare Book and Special Collections. Book conservators in the Library’s Conservation Division, undertook a survey of every one of these 99 copies of Geographia, and found some fascinating things that provide context for the rich history of book binding and manuscript arts.
Posted in: Conservation, Preservation, Rare Books and Special Collections
Posted by: Kristina Grooms
This summer marks a major milestone in the Library of Congress mission to preserve and provide access to its wide range of collections as the ten millionth item is transferred to offsite storage. Since the Library’s collection is continuously growing, it is essential to rely on offsite storage for managing such a vast and varied …
Posted in: Collections Management, Collections Storage, Offsite Storage, Preservation
Posted by: Meghan Hill
Recently, the Preservation Research and Testing Division created interactive, multisensory activities to showcase how science supports the preservation of the Library’s collections. Focusing on paper, pigments, and audiovisual materials that represent just a part of the Library's eclectic collection, these hands-on experiences engaged the public in understanding how we study, protect, and predict the aging of cultural heritage.
Posted in: Events & Outreach, Heritage Science, Pigments, Preservation, Sound Recordings