Etherington Conservation Services - West staff are available for consultations during the following times:

Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm.
Please make an appointment to assure availability.

Treatment Proposals

We will thoroughly evaluate your item, discuss your goals for its preservation and suggest appropriate treatment options.

There is no charge for this consultation meeting.

If a formal treatment proposal is submitted and the client does not wish to pursue treatment at that time, a $75 administrative fee is applicable.

All written estimates are valid for one year.

If the client approves the treatment proposal within the first year, the $75 fee will be applied towards the total cost of conservation.

Items can also be shipped to ECS for evaluation. After determining appropriate treatment, we will contact you to discuss the treatment and related costs. A written description of the suggested treatment and costs will usually be provided.

Work will not begin until the client has approved the treatment proposal.

 

Shipping objects to ECS for evaluation:

If you are unable to deliver your objects to ECS in person, carefully packaged objects can be shipped safely to our facility.

Books and items similar in size may be wrapped together in smooth, ideally acid-free paper, followed by a layer of bubble-wrap, and lightly taped. Arrange these bundles in the center of a sturdy box lined with bubble-wrap. Fill the space between the books and the inside of the box with additional bubble-wrap or crumbled paper.

Please avoid the use of Styrofoam packing peanuts.

Secure the box well with packing tape, including the bottom of the box.

Use at least two layers of large sized bubble-wrap on oversized family Bibles.

On framed prints and documents use at least two-layers of bubble-wrap for cushioning.

If the object is framed with glass, crisscross the glass with several strips of paper-based masking tape. Should the glass become broken during shipping this will limit the damage that broken glass can do to a paper object.  Do not apply masking tape to the frame, only to the glass.

Unframed paper documents need to be placed in an acid-free paper folder or wrapped in acid-free tissue paper, placed between sheets of corrugated cardboard or mat board, and the edges of the boards sealed with tape.

The wrapped bundle is to be placed in a sturdy box with padding. Layering board around the bundle will help to strengthen the package.

Please include:

• Your name, address, telephone number and email as contact information.

• Specific instructions or questions that you may have.

If you are unsure how to pack your object or have concerns about shipping, please call us at (toll-free) 800.253.5456 or (local) 509.529.4220 for assistance.

Print ECS’s address & your return address clearly on the outside of the package.

Address the package to:

Etherington Conservation Services - West
121 Avery Street
Walla Walla, WA 99363
Phone:  509.529.4220
Fax:  509.529.6880