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Category: Collections Care

Close-up view of two hands carefully at work on an aged, yellowing manuscript with handwriting

Analyzing Paper Deterioration: The Experiences of Two Interns Working on the Ongoing ANC Project

Posted by: Tana Villafana

This is a guest post by Kimberly Chancellor and Heidi Vance, two Junior Fellow summer interns in the Preservation Research and Testing Division. Kimberly is a recent graduate from Texas A&M University where she earned her BS in Anthropology. Heidi is a current paper conservation graduate student at Northumbria University.  This summer we had the …

Close-up view of two hands carefully at work on an aged, yellowing manuscript with handwriting

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) – The Scent of Our Collections and the Things That Hold Them

Posted by: Tana Villafana

This is a guest post written by Dr. Eric Monroe, Head of the Scientific Laboratory Section of the Preservation Research and Testing Division. One of his research interests involves examining the impact and consequences of volatile compounds and odors in the Library.   The presence of odors throughout the Library of Congress is hardly a …

Close-up view of two hands carefully at work on an aged, yellowing manuscript with handwriting

Assessing the Impact of Sanitizing Products on Collection Items

Posted by: Tana Villafana

This is a guest post by Cindy Connelly Ryan, a Preservation Science Specialist in the Preservation Research and Testing Division. Her research interests include the light sensitivity of inks, dyes and organic colorants, deterioration and stabilization of verdigris and iron gall ink, and historic recipes and working methods for artists’ materials. Over the ever-lengthening months …