ACRL College & Researc Libraries News

College & Research Libraries News

Preservation News

Jane Hedberg

New perspective on disaster recovery

Library disaster planning and recovery handbook isa comprehensive account of the 1997 flood that damaged more than 500,000 volumes in the Colorado State Library collections. Its emphasis on continuing library service after a disaster distinguishes this handbook from many other titles in this genre. Edited by Camila Alire, the handbook is a compilation of documents, augmented by advice and recommendations, produced by the Colorado State staff members who were involved in managing response to the disaster and subsequent library operations. It covers risk management, human resources, collection salvage, media relations, collection restoration, resource sharing, gifts, fundraising, insurance, and offering partial service at temporary sites. It also addresses the roles played by various library departments when their normal operations are suspended or altered significantly.

The handbook is available from Neal- Schuman Publishers, Inc., 100 Varick St., New York, NY 10013; phone: (212) 925-8650; fax: (800) 584-2414; e-mail: info@neal-schuman. com; URL: http://www.neal-schuman.com.

New NISO standards

The National Information Standards Organization (NISO) has published two new standards. The first, ‘Environmental conditions for exhibiting library and archival materials,” recommends parameters for light exposure, relative humidity, temperature, gaseous and particulate contaminants, display techniques, and components for case and support materials. The second, “Guidelines for information about preservation products,” defines language to be used in describing products to promote consistency and accuracy in marketing.

Free PDF versions of both standards are available at http://www.techstreet.com/cgi-bin/detail?product_id=863737 and http://www. techstreet.com/cgi-bin/detail?product_ id=879717, respectively. Hardcopy versions are also available for $49 each at the same URLs.

Jane Hedberg is preservation program officer at Harvard University, e-mail: jane_hedberg@harvard.edu;fax: (617) 496-8344

Newsletter about mold

Ellen McCrady of Abbey Publications has begun publishing “Mold reporter,” a newsletter about the effects of exposure to mold on humans.

In a “Note from the Editor,” which appeared in the premiere issue, McCrady wrote, “This will not be a health newsletter. … It will cover the causes, remedies, and nature of mold problems, and the specialists who deal with them.”

Subscriptions cost $25 for six issues per year. For more information, contact: Abbey Publications, Inc., 7105 Geneva Drive, Austin, TX 78723; phone: (512) 929-3992; fax: (512) 929-3995; e-mail: abbeypub@flash.net.

Environmental control workshop

The Southeastern Library Network (SOLINET, Inc.) and The Society of Georgia Archivists (SGA) are cosponsoring “Preserving Collections in a Hostile Environment: Environmental Control and Monitoring” on June 28, 2001, in Macon, Georgia. Michael Trinkley, director of the Chicora Foundation and instructor for this daylong workshop, will cover monitoring, identifying problems and developing strategies for improving collections’ environments.

The workshop costs $95 for SOLINET and SGA members or $135 for nonmembers. The registration deadline is June 14. For more information, contact: SOLINET, 1438 W. Peachtree Street NW, Suite 200, Atlanta, GA, 30309-2955, Attn: Continuing Education & Training; phone: (800) 999-8558; fax: (404) 892-7879; e-mail: cet@solinet.net; URL: http ://www. solinet. net/cet/reginfo. htm.

Conservation conference

The International Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (IIC) will hold its 19th congress in Baltimore, Maryland, on September 1-6, 2002. IIC congresses are held every two years in various international locations. ‘Works of Art on Paper, Books, Documents and Photographs: Techniques and Conservation” will be the theme for this congress. The call for papers requests presentations about study of original materials, techniques of manufacture, and methods of restoration or conservation. For more information, contact: IIC, 6 Buckingham St., London WC2N 6BA, England; phone: +44 (0)20 7839 5975; fax: +44 (0)20 7976.