Library Conservation Lab

Certified September, 2023

Located within the University Library, the conservation lab treats both circulating and non-circulating material. Conservation staff complete a variety of repairs from the simple to the complex. Treatment decisions are made with consideration given to the history of the item, its use, and its storage location. These can vary from libraryconservationlab humidification and flattening to mending to full rebinding. In addition to repairing collections material, staff members conduct surveys that can shed light on the condition or preservation needs of a particular collection or area of the library. Staff also create custom housing for books, paper, textiles, ephemera, and 3D objects that are a part of the University's holdings. The work completed by members of the conservation lab is done in accordance with the American Institute for Conservation's Code of Ethical Practice.

We are excited to be a Certified Green Lab: many of our working practices already fit neatly into the goals set by the program, but this process enabled us to scrutinize our current practices and consider the potential progress we can make towards decreasing our negative impact. Conservation work involves mitigating the impacts of our environment, including the impacts of climate change, in order to protect our shared knowledge and heritage now and into the future. The conservation of our cultural heritage is pointless if our greater environment is unsustainable. We want to encourage others to consider the impact their work has on our communities and the planet.