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Preventive Programs

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Preventive Programs is one of several units reporting to Harvard Library Preservation Services. We provide advice to all libraries within the Harvard University community on how to prevent damage to collections, including emergency preparedness...

The Ounce: A Light-Hearted Series About Preventing Library Materials Damage

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Benjamin Franklin advised fire-threatened Philadelphians in 1736 that, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” The Preventive Programs group within HL Preservation Services is starting an occasional series of HLComms posts called “The Ounce,”...

The Ounce: An Antidote to Oops! Careful Handling Training

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Using a book as a croquet wicket may be fun but is not good for the binding. Careful handling of library materials is an important part of preservation; helping to prevent damage for current and future researchers. In-person handling training has always...

ICC 2018 Turin Congress conference review

Events

ICC 2018 Turin Congress conference review. Attendee Lauren Telepak will provide highlights from the 27th Biennial Congress of the International Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (IIC) held in Turin, Italy in September. The congress...

The Ounce: Not if we jam it! (bin-packing guidance)

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For all you Spaceballs (1987 Mel Brooks movie) fans out there…The Ounce has prepared a Preservation redux to help you pack books into hinged-lid transport bins. BARF: What are we doing risking our lives for a rush recalled library book? I know we need the...

The Ounce: Spring Pests Have Sprung

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Welcome to The Ounce, an occasional missive for Harvard Library colleagues from Preventive Programs in HL Preservation Services. Spring has sprung and with it an increase in pests. With this uptick in activity, Preservation usually receives the following...

Facing Catastrophe--IIC Nordic Group conference review

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During the last few years, many countries have experienced disasters such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods, building explosions and fires, which have had a serious impact on their cultural heritage. The International Institute for Conservation...

Reformatting

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To help Repositories preserve access to their digital content by preventing file format obsolescence, Digital Preservation offers the following digital reformatting services:

Preservation Move Guidelines

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General Performance Standard for Moving Harvard Library Collections Understanding that library collections may be fragile or vulnerable to damage, Vendor takes ri gorous, proactive steps to prevent further damage during handling, packing, transport...

Library Collections Salvage Priorities

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When to Prioritize Setting priorities at a broad level begins during the emergency planning process, and is then refined and informed during real emergencies. During the planning process Assess collection priorities (see below) and record them in your...

The Ounce: A Box of Chocolates

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Welcome to another installment of The Ounce, an occasional series from the Preventive Programs group within Preservation Services about safeguarding library materials. Ackermann, A., Josiah Webb & Co. & Chas. H. Crosby & Co. (1866) HBS Baker Library...

Guidelines for Packing Books into Boxes for Commercial Shipping

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Use sturdy boxes in good condition: clean, no holes, and able to fully contain the books. Unlike local transfers, boxes shipped commercially must be fully packed to the top. This will prevent the box being crushed by weight from above. Pack books in the...