Environmental Monitoring: Climate Notebook and Web-based Climate Control System
Background:
High temperature and relative humidity are known to accelerate the deterioration rate of many library collection materials including paper, parchment, leather, photographic prints and negatives, and other organic materials. The Library of Congress maintains storage and exhibition areas within recommended conservation standards. However extreme or rapid fluctuations in environmental conditions due to mechanical problems can harm the physical or mechanical properties of many collection formats.
Since 1999 the Image Permanence Institute, and its partner Herzog Wheeler Associates, has collaborated with the Library of Congress to evaluate the preservation quality of its collection storage environments and establish a process for conducting a risk assessment protocol.
Contributing Studies:
http://www.imagepermanenceinstitute.org/shtml_sub/monitoring.asp
Project Description: The goals of this ongoing collaborative study include:
- The establishment of the infrastructure through which to monitor, collect, and analyze environmental data throughout the Library’s collection storage and exhibition galleries.
- The initiation and development of a process to create a dialogue between preservation, collection, curatorial, exhibition, and facility staff.
- The implementation of an analytical tool for the Library to use in identifying risks to collection materials and prioritizing the necessary preservation actions needed to mitigate these risks.
- Studying the performance of individual heating ventilation and air condition (HVAC) units to determine the settings and maintenance required for optimal performance to meet preservation requirements.
- The development and implementation of a web-based system to organize and share environmental information with partners throughout the institution.
Outcomes/Findings:
- The monitoring and analysis of environmental data enabled any deficiencies in mechanical equipment serving collections storage and exhibition areas to be promptly quantified and reported to facility operators for adjustments or repairs.
- The development of the web-based system allows LC to organize and link collection information, environmental data and incident reports to specific location maps of storage and exhibition areas.
- A process has been developed between preservation directorate and facility staff members to discuss the environmental issues that affect the long-term preservation of Library materials.
Support: Mellon Foundation for initial funding
Acknowledgements: Image Permanence Institute and Herzog Wheeler Associates.
Update: MyClimateData, the web-based module, will be available for Library-wide use in early 2009.