Preservation Awareness Week to Highlight Protection of Precious Books and Papers

Treasured books, historical family papers or precious photographs can last a long time if treated right. But too often books and other materials are handled carelessly, says book repair technician Lisa Clark of Smith College's Neilson Library.

To foster book preservation and the proper handling, repair and storage of historical materials, the Friends of the Smith College Libraries will host "Preservation Awareness Week 1999" from Monday, March 29, through Thursday, April 1, featuring a range of discussions, lectures and hands-on events. All events are free and open to the public.

Activities begin at 9:30 a.m. Monday with a book clinic and open house in Neilson Library Browsing Room that will feature bookbinding demonstrations and conservation techniques. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own books, papers and photographs to get free consultations regarding their care and storage from local bookbinders and college archives staff.

At 2 p.m. Monday, a video, "Library Preservation: Recasing," will be shown in the browsing room followed by a panel discussion. Other videos, including "How to Operate a Book" and "Murder in the Stacks," will be shown throughout the week with further discussions.

At 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Clark will give a book repair demonstration in the Neilson Core Level I. At 3 p.m. Wednesday, guest speaker Jane Hedberg, a 1969 Smith graduate and serials librarian and preservation administrator at Wellesley College, will give a talk titled "The Future Ain't What it Used to Be: The Role of Preservation in a Library's Mission" in the browsing room.

At 9:30 a.m. Thursday, staff members in the college's rare book room will give a presentation titled "It Survived the Hundred Years' War, But Can It Survive Neilson Library?"

The event will close at 3 p.m. Thursday with a talk by preservation specialist Gregor Trinkaus-Randall titled "It's 4 a.m. Do You Know Where Your Collections Are?" about disaster preparedness and library security. The talk will take place in the browsing room with a reception following.

Throughout Preservation Awareness Week, displays of damaged books and materials will be exhibited in the library's foyer. An additional display, "The Chemistry of Paper," will explore the paper-making process and problems involved with acidic paper.

More information about Preservation Awareness Week is available at www.smith.edu/libraries/techserv/preserve/paw/paw.htm.