Conservation Services

The conservation of library collections involves library materials of all types—new and old, human and machine readable, and manufactured from a seemingly endless range of papers, animal skins, fabrics, plastics, wood, metals, glass, and other materials.

Library conservation programs are underway throughout Harvard and involve the assessment, cleaning, treatment, and protective housing of unbound manuscripts and typescripts, bound volumes (manuscript and printed), drawings, prints, paint on paper, maps, music scores, photographs (printed on paper, film, glass, and other media), motion picture film, and myriad other materials.

Two major laboratories are represented on this web site:

• The Weissman Preservation Center conservation laboratory, treating special collections throughout Harvard University
• The Conservation Services conservation laboratory, treating general collections throughout the Harvard College Library