The Preservation Department collaborates with colleagues throughout the Library to keep resources available to the people who need them. Preservation & Conservation Department staff members:
- Provide leadership and expertise to preserve the Library’s resources
- Prepare new print materials and bind books as needed to improve durability
- Repair damaged books
- Digitize, reproduce in print, or purchase replacements when damaged books cannot be repaired
- Monitor library environments to slow down deterioration and prevent mold
- Maintain the library disaster plan to minimize loss in a flood or fire
Questions
For more information about Preservation and Conservation Services contact Annie Peterson, Department Head or preservation@unc.edu.
Special Collections Conservation
The Special Collections Conservation Laboratory is responsible for the care and treatment of rare books, manuscripts, posters, maps, and other materials in the University Library’s special collections. Working collaboratively with curators and departmental liaisons, the Library’s Conservator and Assistant Conservator participate in short- and long-range planning for conservation, digitization, and exhibition of materials in the Rare Book Collection, Southern Historical Collection, Southern Folklife Collection, North Carolina Collection, and the University Archives.
The conservators advise on preventive conservation at both procedural and policy levels; monitor environmental conditions in the Wilson Library; provide support for digitization projects and installation of exhibits; offer assistance and expertise in the salvage of library materials in the event of disaster; and carry out conservation treatment on materials from the Special Collections. Treatments range from minor to extensive repairs on individual items or groups of materials. All work is done in accordance with the Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Practice of the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works.
The Conservation Laboratory, built with generous donations from University Library supporters, provides a spacious and well-equipped environment in which to carry out the broad range of book and paper conservation treatments demanded by the Library’s rich and diverse collections.
Staff
The Laboratory employs several student assistants, and advanced interns from graduate conservation programs periodically augment the staff. The conservators are available to consult with faculty and students on questions of history and technology of book structure and interpretation of material evidence. They also provide reference service for conservation questions to academic departments of the University, institutions outside of the University Library, and the general public across North Carolina.
Any job openings in Preservation and Conservation Services will be posted on the Library Human Resources page.
Private Work
The Laboratory does not undertake private work, so members of the public with items in need of conservation should consult the American Institute for Conservation’s guidelines resources on finding and hiring a conservation professional.
