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Posted by: Chloe Genter
Papyrus is a unique material among the vast holdings of the Library of Congress, but these early fragmentary texts give us remarkable glimpses into history. Specialized training was undertaken and given to conserve papyri at the Library, resulting in the recent conservation treatment of a collection of papyri from the African and Middle Eastern Division.
Posted in: Care and Handling, Collections Care, Conservation, Preservation
Posted by: Amelia Parks
For over a hundred years, endless rows of oak drawers filled with index cards served as the primary guide for collection information for countless Library staff. The Library’s card catalog is actually a combination of many catalogs and served as the public’s main bibliographic information access point for books and periodicals until 1980, and despite our current online catalog, staff continue to use the wealth of information found on these index cards. Recently the Library decided to move these catalog cards from the oak cabinets found across the Capitol Hill campus to offsite storage and the Collections Management Division was tasked with inventorying and transporting the cards while simultaneously ensuring their accessibility.
Posted in: Collections Care, Collections Management, Collections Storage, Offsite Storage
Posted by: K.F. Shovlin
Our exploration of 125 years of binding at the Library of Congress finds a period of great movement and change for the binding office both in physical space and where they fit in the Library structure. Starting the 1940’s with a large onsite bindery in the new Library Annex, the binding office that prepared to move to the James Madison Memorial Building in 1981 had changed in every possible way.
Posted in: Collections Care, Preservation
Posted by: Amelia Parks
Librarian in Residence, Kaila Brugger reminisces about conducting the stacks survey and the serendipitous lessons learned along the way.
Posted in: Collections Management, Collections Storage
Posted by: K.F. Shovlin
125 years of binding retrospect posts continue as we look at the Binding Office’s time in the Thomas Jefferson Building. During that time, the Library staff worked with the Government Printing Office to research binding materials, moving from animal skins to a new durable, acid-free cloth alternative that we still use today, buckram.
Posted in: Collections Care, Preservation
Posted by: Chloe Genter
Supporting collections care is incredibly important for the safeguarding of our cultural heritage for current and future generations to appreciate. Hear about a volunteer project at the Mummers' Museum from Chloe Genter and Cheyenne McClain.
Posted in: Care and Handling, Collections Care, Collections Storage, Events & Outreach
Posted by: Amelia Parks
Pioneering 17th century natural scientist, artist, and engraver Maria Sibylla Merian traveled to Suriname to observe and collect insect specimens. In 1705, she published a book, Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium (Metamorphosis of Surinamese Insects) with large, vibrantly colored illustrations of exotic species that captivated natural history enthusiasts. Read about how a trans-disciplinary team from Preservation Research and Testing, Rare Books and Manuscripts and an Einstein Fellow worked together to examine the book and discuss research questions and goals.
Posted in: Heritage Science, Preservation, Rare Books and Special Collections
Posted by: Chloe Genter
Heather Wanser is a Senior Paper Conservator for the Conservation Division. In this post, Heather speaks about how she performed treatment on a concept drawing for one of America’s most beloved comic book characters, Captain America.
Posted in: Collections Care, Conservation, Preservation
Posted by: Amelia Parks
Geanie Jackson is the new administrative officer within the Collections Management Division (CMD), but she is not new to the Library of Congress. While Geanie has been a go-to for all sorts of topics over the years, in her current role she is the beating heart of CMD. In this interview, Geanie shares insights into her career journey, daily responsibilities, and wide-ranging personal interests that make her a much-loved part of the Library's team.
Posted in: Collections Management, Preservation