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Preservation Libraries

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Published resources about preservation are located in two departmental libraries, one in Collections Care and the other in the Weissman Preservation Center. Both libraries are open to members of the Harvard University community from 9 am to 5 pm on Mondays-Fridays.

 

Collections Care Library

This collection includes a comprehensive and specialized set of reference materials on collections conservation – available for use in the Preservation Conference Room, Widener Library D-level, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Please call or email to arrange access.

Phone: 617-495-2433

Email: collcon@fas.harvard.edu

Titles in the Collections Care Library are identified in HOLLIS as belonging to the "HCL Conservation Services" collection, which is categorized under Widener Library.

The Collections Care Library is a non-circulating collection, available to the Harvard University community by appointment. Items from the collection may be used in the conference room on D-Level in Widener Library or by special permission in the Phillips Reading Room.

The items in this collection do not circulate outside Widener Library, except that Collections Care staff members may borrow items from the library overnight. The circulation procedure in the case of Collections Care staff is as follows:

  • The title of the item, call number, name of the borrower, and date are entered on the Circulation Record form (kept on a clip board in the D-Level conference room).
  • The staff member enters the date and call number on a blue "Permission to Borrow" flag. The flag must be signed by a Collections Care manager. The flag is then placed in the item to be borrowed and should remain with the item until it is returned the following day.
  • Upon return, the date of return is entered on the Circulation Record form, the flag is removed, and the book is returned to the shelf in call number order

 

Weissman Preservation Center (WEI) Resource Library

This collection includes monographs, journals, videos, and vertical files about all preservation topics (including collections conservation and digital imaging) – available for use at 90 Mt. Auburn Street, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Please call 617-495-8596 or email HL_PreservationInfo@harvard.edu to arrange access. The items in this collection do not circulate outside the Weissman Preservation Center.

The HOLLIS Catalog contains records of the monographs (books) in the WEI Library. Search tip: In the "Locations" portion of the HOLLIS Expanded Search form, scroll to and select "Weissman Preservation Center" to restrict your search to the holdings of this library.