Collection Surveys and Preservation Planning

COLLECTION SURVEYS AND PRESERVATION PLANNING
Etherington Conservation Services (ECS) can perform environmental, storage, and collections surveys to address preservation needs for libraries, museums, historical societies, and private clients. An assessment tool designed to meet the client’s specific informational needs can be developed. ECS can also assist the client in creating a long-term preservation plan based upon information gathered from an assessment survey.

In depth general collection surveys are regularly performed to evaluate the conservation and preservation needs of the collection. The study includes an analysis of the environmental controls and conditions as well as the general storage facility and can include a general study of the building structure to help assess the collection within. Thorough item by item conservation surveys of art on paper, archival documents and photographs can be conducted upon request.

ECS also offers environmental monitoring services designed to assist collections managers, curators, and librarians attain information required to maintain and promote the long term preservation of a collection of historic and artistic material. An environmental evaluation of collection storage facilities can be performed using the Preservation Environment Monitor® (PEM®) and the Climate Notebook® software program developed by the Image Permanence Institute (IPI), Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY can be implemented to record and monitor the environment. The environmental data can be used to supplement grant applications and provide justification for improvements in storage facilities.