Preservation Exhibits

Paperback Workshop--Spring, 2014

In April 2014, staff from eight area cultural organizations including libraries and archives attended a one-day paperback repair workshop in the University at Albany Preservation Department .

Students consider their own paperbacks, materials and tools as Ann explains the repair process.

A quick demonstration on fitting endpapers before students attempt the procedure...

PVA is applied to the backstrip

The strip is carefully aligned with the Bristol board cover

After glueing the strip to the board with PVA, the attachment is further reinforced by applying pressure with a bone folder

Students use their new knowledge to repair general collections items

Careful attention to detail is necessary in this process

Students who finished one book started on a second one for additional practice

For a busy classroom, people were very quiet and focused on their work

Finishing steps include trimming ...

And completing structure assembly

Staff members were available to help at all times

Karen brought the day to a close with a round-robin discussion to evaluate the day's accomplishments

Peeps in Preservation

On April 14th, 2014, we were startled to discover that peeps had invaded the Preservation Lab.

Peeps were everywhere!!!

At first, we thought they might be spies, or could it be that they were just doing research?

But when we saw them preparing adhesive, we knew they were up to no good...

We tried controlling the situation by freezing.

It soon became apparent that a power struggle between the yellow and the pink peeps was in play. Peeps were being sealed in bags for transfer to permanent storage.

This yellow peep was being teased and taunted with a heavy blade.

The board creaser did little more than squish this peep - thankfully, he popped back to his original shape.

This guy didn't make it.

One peep was squealing with delight ... until he dissolved.

We finally captured one of the pink oppressors and took mug shots; the yellow peeps cheered us on!

But the battle escalated.

This little fellow had no chance.

A peep martyr faces the guillotine.

Then the tide quickly turned.

Victory at last! Yellow peeps rule the Preservation Lab!

Special Boxes for Special Collections

Meredith Butler, Dean & Director of Libraries Emerita, has been serving as a volunteer in the Library's Preservation Lab since her retirement in 2005. She specializes in the complex construction of drop spine boxes for the rare vellum-bound books in the Elsevier Collection, housed in the M. E. Grenander Department of Special Collections & Archives. The following exhibit illustrates just a few steps the boxmaking process.

Vellum bound book from Elsevier Collection

Vellum binding showing structural distortion produced by humidity

Measuring the height, width and depth (each at three separate points) of book

Meredith cutting board pieces for box construction

Box-making diagram

Board pieces laid out to follow diagram

Partially-assembled base

Base and lid trays, box case and covering cloth

Gluing cloth to tray

Cutting cloth to cover tray

Meredith fitting book into base

Meredith assembling base, book, lid and case

Clamped boxes drying under weights

Finished box -- open

Finished box -- closed

Albany High School Blueprints

In July, 2013, University Libraries asked its Preservation Department to assess and flatten eighteen tightly-rolled original blueprints of Albany High School to assist architects in the University's renovation of the recently-acquired building. The following exhibit shows some of the steps taken by Preservation Department staff to prepare these blueprints.