Harvard College Library Opens Conservation Lab
The Harvard College Library has entered an era of improved care of its research collections with the opening of a new Conservation Laboratory in Widener Library. Over the course of the last year, 3,400 square feet of storage space have been transformed into a state-of-the-art conservation facility designed by the Boston architectural firm Shepley Bulfinch Richardson and Abbott. Nancy Schrock, Chief Collections Conservator for the Harvard College Library; David Moore, Collections Conservator for Widener Library; and Paul Bellenoit, Director of Facilities Management for the Harvard College Library, played key roles in planning the lab.
At an open house hosted by HCL Preservation Services on April 27, staff from throughout the Harvard Library system participated in an in-depth tour of the laboratory, following the path of damaged materials from their arrival in Preservation Review to work stations for box-making, minor and intermediate repair, rebinding, and the more complex procedures that are performed on older books.
The overarching goal of the Library's conservation program is to improve the condition of the research collections so that they can sustain continued use. Original bindings are preserved whenever possible, using methods and materials that are both durable and visually harmonious. A highly structured work flow, batch processing, and expert staff ensure very high levels of productivity. Efficiency and careful planning are evident in the design of workbenches and the placement of heavy equipment and storage units. Two generous gifts from the Friends of the Harvard College Library made possible the purchase of nine new book presses, two backing presses, and two board cutters. Together with a fume hood, ultrasonic welder, and large sink, this specialized equipment will support implementation of a broad treatment program.
The laboratory is central to the development of a cohesive program, for conservation of the general research collections in the Harvard College Library. In addition to repairing over 20,000 volumes from the Widener collections each year, staff will treat materials that cannot be handled in the smaller workshops established in Fine Arts, Tozzer, Cabot and other College libraries.
The laboratory will also serve as a teaching facility for collections conservation staff throughout the University. Training will range from small-group workshops to customized programs tailored to meet specific needs. Teaching faculty will include the Chief Collections Conservator in the Harvard College Library, the Collections Conservator for Widener Library, conservators from throughout Harvard's libraries and museums, and guest trainers from other institutions and facilities. The first training sessions will focus on disaster preparedness.
A reference collection of books and articles on collections conservation topics is housed in the lab, along with files of product information and samples. These materials, combined with those collected in the Harvard University Library Preservation Center, represent a tremendous resource for Harvard's conservation community.
Said Nancy M. Cline, Roy E. Larsen Librarian of Harvard College, "The concern for preservation of the Library's collections is longstanding but in this past year, two very promising changes have occurred. One is the decision to proceed with the Widener Stacks Renovation Project, which will result in a much better controlled environment for housing the collections. The other is the completion of the Conservation Laboratory. Designed to support a production capacity suitable to the size of the College Library's collections, this new lab will enable us to extend the usable life of many thousands of books each year. By treating them in a timely manner, we can feel confident that they will remain available for research well into the future."
The Conservation Laboratory, focusing largely on the millions of damaged 19th- and 20th- century items in the Harvard College Library, complements the special collections laboratory housed in the Harvard University Library Preservation Center. With the arrival of Pam Spitzmueller, Chief Conservator for Special Collections in the University Library and the College Library, the foundations will be in place for development of a comprehensive conservation program for Harvard's libraries.