Preservation and conservation
Limiting risks
How to open and browse an old print? How do you maintain acidified, fragile newspapers? How do you prevent damage to paper-based heritage to preserve your collection as long as possible? Books and paper are not only endangered by external risks, like fire, water or vermin, but also by use and transport. The goal of the collection management is to minimize these risks.
Optimal circumstances
Qualitative collection management consists of both preservation and conservation. Preserving means retaining we make sure the storage conditions are perfect. This does not only require a trustworthy infrastructure, adjusted spaces and shelves, acid-free and protective binders, boxes and covers but we also meticulously watch over the ideal temperature and humidity. On top of that, we do everything we can to keep our repositories clean and safe to avoid all possible risks.
Intervening in time
Besides maintaining the perfect storage conditions, we also keep our pieces in good condition. We intervene manually to treat damaged books. We handle small repairs ourselves, with a sort of first aid for books: adhering book spines, unfolding pages, mending rips… Every treatment we do is reversible and focuses on sustainability. For larger repairs and restorations, we collaborate with the paper restorers of the collection management of Antwerp.
Awareness communication
Preservation and management is someting that every employee and reader is supposed to be consciously engaged with. It is one of the main tasks of the Heritage Library. That is why we share our expertise with all our colleagues and partners. We often organise internal and external training opportunities to keep this awareness alive.
Heightened risk
Presentation and loans
For our own expositions in the Nottebohm room, we make sure the presentation of the pieces is appropriate. Think of custom book cradles, safe lighting and air-conditioned bookcases. Alexandra is also responsible for incoming loans for our own expos. When we lend works of our collection to other museums, she coordinates everything. From taking care of all the administration to placing the works in the bookcases.
Calamities
Unfortunately, not everything is always in our control. In rare cases, dangerous situations can occur, the so-called ‘calamities’. Perhaps, the building is suddenly flooding due to incessant rain or a broken pipe. Or maybe mould or an insect is found in the collection, or perhaps a fire has started: a true nightmare! In such cases, the whole team helps out, 24/7. All procedures are bundled in our collection emergency plan.
Repository work
Collection management also coordinates the functioning of the repositories. Where new items get a safe place and are wrapped in acid-free binders, covers and boxes. Books from donations are first checked and cleaned to prevent outbreaks of mould for example. We are talking about around 13.000 new pieces per year! Every day, precious objects leave the repository for the reading room, or to be digitised, internally or externally. Collection management plays an important role in this as well.
Contact preservation and management
The Heritage Library Hendrik Conscience is always at your service. If you have any questions about the preservation and management of paper and books, you can always contact Alexandra. She and her team are happy to help!
Alexandra Noël
- Has worked here since 2012, and has had her current position since 2018
- Specialisation: preservation and conservation of paper-based heritage
- Ask her everything about: optimal preservation circumstances of paper and books and how to handle the many risks of keeping a paper collection
- Contact: alexandra.noel@antwerpen.be / 0470 11 41 26
