Archive Talk: Resources

Archival Development - Resources - Collection Preservation



The National Archives UK

www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/information-management/

www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/archives-sector/



As the government's national archive for England, Wales and the United Kingdom, they hold over 1,000 years of the nation's records for everyone to discover and use. Their 21st-century role is to collect and secure the future of the government record, both digital and physical, to preserve it for generations to come, and to make it as accessible and available as possible.

The UK Public Record Office was created in 1838. In 2011, responsibility for archives across England was transferred to The National Archives from the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA). They expertise is in the effective management, use and re-use of information - a valuable resource for 250 government and public sector bodies.

They are constantly working with others around the world to develop the best practices and offer a vasts collection of free online documents on every aspect of the archival process.



AIC - The American Institute for Conservation

www.conservation-us.org



This is a national membership organization of conservation professionals dedicated to preserving the art and historic artifacts of Americas cultural heritage for future generations.



Care, Handling and Storage of Books, Collections Care, and Preserving Your Treasures are covered in the section “Caring For Your Treasures: Guides for Taking Care of Your Personal Heritage.” They offer guides covering books, documents & works of art on paper, photographs, home videotape and others. The guides are written in a clear and organized manner. For example, the guide on books presents information on environmental conditions, shelving, storage, handling and use, cleaning and maintenance, and emergencies and minor disasters.



The AIC strengths are their clear concise guides to preservation, useful for the archival professional and amateur family archivist. Unfortunately their website navigation was poor – you would need to click on the back arrow of the browser to avoid spaghetti navigation as none of the guides were interlinked or linked back to the index page.



American Conservation Consortium: Nationwide Collections Preservation Services

www.conservator.com/collections_preservation.htm



The American Conservation Consortium provides a wide array of museum preservation and conservation services.

This is a 2003 article by Marc A. Williams (M.S., Art Conservation, and Author of a number of articles on preservation issues). Presented on one very long page, this article is intended for the professional archivist and conservator. General Collections Preservation Issues provides guidelines to a large number of areas including non-preservation topics such as Accessioning/Deaccessioning and Exhibition Issues



ACC's strengths are in the depth of topical coverage is quite comprehensive – material for each topic provided good information and requirements for best practices in preservation. Their weakness is the format of one long page makes it easy to print out the entire article, but more difficult to use via the browser – relies on heavy use of the find feature built into browsers and no illustrations.



Jeff Heynen

http://stceolfrid.byethost13.com/archivalmanagement/



Archival Management: A Guide for Organizing, Cataloging, and Preserving Collections of Papers, Photographs, and Other Records.

While written as an introduction to preservation related topics by “an interested amateur,” the quality is quite good and the lengthy article is geared to the family archivist, or smaller archives. It was quite impressively organized with appropriate illustrations throughout all of the topics.

Its coverage of preservation topics in a “How-to-Guide” manner with links to additional resources within most preservation topics or sections.



ARMA International

www.arma.org/standards/



ARMA International is the leader and authority on the education of information management issues such as e-mail management, retention schedules and e-discovery laws.

ARMA offers a number of standards based publications – all for a fee (generally in the rage of $20- $50 for a PDF download). They also have free white papers – industry sponsored content covering topics such as Information Governance, Compliance/Legal, Electronically Stored Information Trends, Document Archiving. All of the papers pertain to various standards. Their white paper on the PDF/A standard was well written and in an easy to ready format. The site offers quality materials offered on free section, however, most materials were fee based.



Canadian Conservation Institute

www.cci-icc.gc.ca/index-eng.aspx



Through conservation science, treatment, and preventive conservation, the Canadian Conservation Institute supports the heritage community in preserving Canada's heritage collections so they can be accessed by current and future generations. This mission is accomplished through conservation research and development, expert services, and knowledge dissemination.

The Canadian Conservation Institute offers education and preservation information via coursework, articles, guides on a wide range of topics. They also publish an annual “Reflections on Conservation” magazine. The section called CCI Notes contains guides to a variety of topics pertaining to the care and preservation of collections. Under the Paper and Books section; guides were produced for making protective enclosures for books and paper artifacts, basic care of books, and display methods for books. The guides give clear illustrative instructions and include a bibliography for further reading. CCI produce solid preservation information and guides, available in English and French.



Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts (CCAHA)

www.ccaha.org



CCAHA specializes in the treatment of art and historic artifacts on paper and provides preservation education, training, and consultation. Established in 1977, CCAHA is the largest nonprofit regional conservation lab in the country.

Fascinating images on restoration projects and tools of the trade greet each visitor to this very informative and well laid-out website. The home page offers annotated links recent news items of CCAHA, in addition to upcoming events, typically educational conferences held at various institutions around the country. Note that all their information on preservation and conservation topics is in the form of educational conferences. A Well-crafted website is easy to use and read but a lack of conservation and preservation related information.



Heritage Preservation: The National Institute for Conservation

www.heritagepreservation.org



For over 30 years, Heritage Preservation has been working to ensure the preservation of collections for present and future generations. We are the nation's leading nonprofit advocate for the proper care of all our cultural heritage--works of art, books and archives, documents and photographs, architecture, monuments, natural science specimens, and family heirlooms.



Their mission is to preserve our nation’s heritage through conservation, education, and preparation. While they maintain links to resources external to their website, they do offer a number of downloadable documents that offer very basic first steps in an emergency to halt further damage to collections and artifacts; and, a number of Guides, including forms for SBA Disaster Aid for Cultural Institutions under FEMA. Their publication on “Capitalize on Collections Care” offered considerable insight into fundraising opportunities for archival and library institutions. They are very strong on advocacy and fundraising issues affecting preservation of collections, however, they have no real in-depth material that covers preservation of archival materials. More administration, fundraising and advocacy for preservation issues.



Heritage Werks

heritagewerks.com/archival-preservation.html



Heritage Werks is an archival company that creates corporate archives, organization, government, celebrity, family and special high value archival programs. While their site does not provide preservation information per se, it does offer interesting content in their description of services. Specifically, they list out some of the essential things to include in various special purpose archives, and the reasoning behind collecting items to be archived. They focus on Corporations, Celebrities, Organizations, Families, Government Agencies and High Value Collections. You can click on a link within each section to see what items are typically included within that type of archive. Their strengths are in the checklist which are is fairly comprehensive, however, they lack actual content pertaining to collections preservation.



National Archives and Records Administration

www.archives.gov/preservation/holdings-maintenance/table-of-contents.html



The NARA site offers the technical information paper 6 "Preservation of Archival Records: Holdings Maintenance at the National Archives" by Mary Lynn Ritzenthaler (1990).

This section of the NARA website provides detailed information and procedures to use for preserving or prolonging the life of various archival materials including Boxes, Folders, Oversized Records, Folded and Rolled Documents, Written Notations on Archival Records, Dusting, Damaged Records, Fastened Documents, Bound Volumes, Scrapbooks and Albums, Photographs, Preservation Photocopying, and Unstable Copies. The instructions are written in a step-by-step manner with illustrations of some of the steps for clarification. Unfortunately, it isn’t clear whether Technical Information Papers (TIPs) issued by NARA are incorporated into these topical preservation instructions. They offer clear, succinct instructions describing basic preservation procedures.



Library of Congress

www.loc.gov/preservation/care/



Like the UK's National Archives, the Library of Congress is the USA’s oldest federal cultural institution, and it serves as the research arm of Congress. The 'preservation/care' section of the LOC website offered brief guides – essentials – in the care, handling and storage of the typical collections found in most family archives including books, paper (manuscripts, drawings, documents, etc.), Newspapers, photographs, scrapbooks and albums, film and more. They also have a very interesting guide – Preservation Guidelines for Digitizing Library Materials, that is geared more for the institutional organization. They also offered guides to Environmental (Lighting, Water Damage and Pollutants) that were also geared towards the professional librarian, archivist, curator, or exhibit designer.



Minnesota Historical Society

www.mnhs.org/preserve/conservation/



http://www.archivalstudies.com/images/ExternalResources/ArchivalCollectionsPreservation/2011-10-01-MinnesotaHistoricalSociety-250.jpg" class="alignleft" />At the Minnesota Historical Society (MHS) they've been collecting, preserving, and telling Minnesota stories for 150 years. Their featured Conservation Resources included basic guidelines for storing and preserving cultural heritage collections, treatments & projects, salvage procedures for wet items, research & development guidelines, and disaster response and recovery. Under collections care, the various topics offer preservation guides in a very well-thought out way – they list topics covered with each guide along with an image from that document. Other topics were not annotated, but offered organized links to articles and guides pertaining to that topic.

A visually appealing and informative website.



North Carolina Preservation Consortium

www.ncpreservation.org/resources/



The NCPC also offers free preservation information and consultations in addition to providing continuing education workshops on a variety of preservation topics. Their website offers online information on preservation topics under the “Resources” tab. Clicking on the topic of choice opens another page with links to other websites. The once exception to that was the link to removing mold – it was an actual article with instructions on what to do and who to contact in an emergency. They provided well categorized links to preservation materials on other websites, yet they are are low on original content.



Northeast Document Conservation Center

www.nedcc.org

The NEDCC offers preservation services including assessment & consultation, education, and disaster assistance. In particular, their educational service provide a wide array of offerings including workshops, webinars, conferences, training opportunities and an online Preservation 101 course (either instructor let for a fee or self-guided which is free of charge). For example, under resources, you will find an informative article about Preserving Family Collections. Offering a number of Preservation Leaflets covering Planning and Prioritizing; The Environment; Emergency Management; Storage and Handling; Photographs; Reformatting; and Conservation Procedures.

They are a well organized site that offers what appears to be good quality content.

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Heritage at Risk – New Sign on Melrose House

A New Sign For Melrose House: For Sale

For the resident of Gouyave, the saga of Melrose House continues.



The historic building, which has been threatened with demolition, has now been put up for sale by the current owner. So much for our cry for help in May 2011.



One of the last remaining  of its type in the area, residents have advocated for historical landmarks designation and that the government of Grenada place its ownership in trust and re-purpose the building as a museum.



In the fight to save and preserve Melrose House, this latest development creates the feeling of returning to square one.  The big noise made after the first sales that, in all likelihood, gave the building temporary reprieve from demolition, is likely going to be needed again, unless the government once and for all steps in to save the building.



The worry is that a new owner might not be as responsive to demands to preserve Melrose House and Grenada will again lose  a substantial cultural heritage site.



This is not just a Gouyave issue.  It is a Grenada issue.  It is an issue for all that values the preservation of heritage and culture.



Tell the government of Grenada to save Melrose House.

• Prime Minister Tillman Thomas: pmsec@gov.gd



• Tourism Minister Peter David: tourism@gov.gd

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Digital Preservation: Digitisation dilemmas

Digitisation dilemmas

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="201"] Operating a digital camera via the laptop[/caption]



There are substantial benefits to be gained by digitising paper records. As a result, the number of organisations undertaking digitisation has increased dramatically in recent years.



However, if you want to introduce digitisation projects or programs you need to be aware that there are also a variety of risks. Being aware of these risks can help your organisation to built mitigation measures into program/project planning and management.



Types of digitisation



Organisations usually conduct either (1) business process digitisation programs, where they scan incoming correspondence as it is received (2) back-capture digitisation projects, where accumulated paper records are digitised.



Benefits of digitisation



When programs and projects are planned and managed well and in line with best practice, digitisation can bring many benefits. Depending on the program or project, digitisation may allow you to:

• improve the accessibility of records within the organisation



• publish records online and/or facilitate information sharing more widely



• integrate records with existing EDRMS and business systems



• Improve efficiency by reducing reliance on hybrid systems



• Automate workflow



• Enable and encourage data reuse



• Promote the preservation of original paper records by using digital images instead



• Reduce physical storage costs by destroying paper records after digitisation.

Risks of digitisation



Below are some examples of risks that may apply, depending on the nature of the program or project, and how risks can be mitigated:



1. Risk: That money will be wasted by poor selection of records for digitisation



Some organisations get so excited about digitisation that they want to digitise everything! Digitisation is an expensive undertaking and should only be done when substantial and realistic benefits can be made.



It is also worth noting that some records do not digitise well e.g. fragile records, records with faint inks etc. Others, such as large maps and plans, will require specialist (and often more expensive) digitisation techniques and equipment.



Risk mitigation: Selection decisions for digitisation programs or projects should be carefully defined in planning.



2. Risk: That the complexities of digitisation will be underestimated



Digitisation is inherently complex. It is not enough just to buy the software and hardware and start scanning, or sign a contract with a service provider and send them paper records. If care is not taken the results could be disastrous, the digital images unusable and public money wasted.



Risk mitigation: All digitisation activity needs to be carefully planned and managed. Research needs to be conducted and decisions need to be made and documented about a variety of matters including:

• what records should be digitised and why



• what benchmarks are needed



• what technical standards to use



• what metadata is required, and



• what quality assurance measure to apply.

Staff members need to be trained and supported to perform their allocated roles.



If contracting-out digitisation, organisations need to ensure that controls are communicated to service providers and built into contracts. The performance of the contractor must be monitored and the paper and digital records protected at all times. For more information about responsibilities when contracting-out see Accountable outsourcing: Recordkeeping considerations of outsourcing NSW Government business (Guideline 16).



3. Risk: That costs will be underestimated



Digitisation involves a range of upfront and ongoing costs:

• Upfront costs can include the purchase of hardware and software, training and support of staff, staff time to define benchmarks, contract set-up etc. In some cases costs might include conservation treatment for fragile paper records prior to digitisation.



• Ongoing costs include staff time to digitise and perform quality assurance, the cost of maintaining digital images (and possibly original paper records as well) over time, managing variables and the maintenance and update of systems.

In particular, the ongoing costs (and complexity) of preserving digital images in place of original paper records over long periods of time should not be underestimated. This will require a significant investment of funds over a long period of time which could make some projects unviable.



If outsourcing, some upfront costs can be reduced, but the organisation will incur other costs from the service provider.



Risk mitigation: As part of planning, organisations need to clearly define both upfront and ongoing costs, including costs for maintaining some digital images in the long term, and ensure that they have adequate resources over the lifetime of the program or project. If they cannot guarantee resources, project aims and selection decisions may have to be reviewed.



4. Risk: That original paper records, including State archives, will be destroyed without authorisation



Any organisations undertaking digitisation in order to destroy original paper records need to be aware that not all records are authorised for destruction after digitisation. If a reduction in storage costs is one of the promised benefits in their business case, this may not always be deliverable.



Where original paper records can be destroyed, the digital images will become the primary records and need to be managed accordingly and kept for the full retention periods specified in retention and disposal authorities.



For more information on disposal see the General retention and disposal authority – Imaged records.



Risk mitigation: Organisations should clearly understand disposal requirements for the original paper records selected for digitisation before embarking on a digitisation program or project. They should also build in staff training and quality assurance measures to ensure that no unauthorised disposal takes place. Any authorised destruction should be secure and in line with organisational records policy.



5. Risk: That original paper records will be damaged during the digitisation process



Back-capture digitisation projects require that original paper records be retrieved from storage, handled and sometimes unbound. On occasions pages may need to be removed (e.g. in order to apply different scanner settings). In the case of outsourcing, original paper records will need to be transported to and from service providers.



There is a risk that the paper records will be damaged in this process or returned to storage in the incorrect order.  This may create problems and compromise their ability to function as evidence, especially for records of high risk or high value that are being retained after digitisation.



Risk mitigation: Organisations need to ensure that original paper records are handled carefully and put back in their original order. Staff members need to be trained in handling and supervised where necessary and quality assurance measures built in to ensure records are not damaged.



Important note: If records are required as State archives, advice from State Records should be sought before digitisation commences.



6. Risk: That digitisation will not produce a full and accurate representation of the original paper records



The aim of digitisation is to create digital images of the original paper records. The quality of these images need to be fit for purpose. In some cases it may be appropriate to settle for smaller files of lesser quality e.g. for the delivery of images online.



However, there are occasions where the quality of the digital images cannot be compromised, for example, where the original paper records are to be destroyed and the digital records are to replace them as evidence of the business activity (and could potentially be required in court).



Risk mitigation: Organisations need to identify what the essential characteristics of the records are that must be retained, and create quality benchmarks to ensure that these remain intact. The definition of technical and metadata standards, along with staff training and quality assurance checks (either of images or samples of images) should help to ensure that image quality is fit for purpose. Procedures and standards need to be developed and documented as these will help to demonstrate that digital images are trusted copies of the originals.



For more information see the General retention and disposal authority – Imaged records and Digital imaging and recordkeeping (RIB 11).



7. Risk: That digital images are not stored or protected appropriately



If the original paper records are destroyed the digital images become the official records. Digital images must be stored securely, remain tamper-proof and unaltered, and be kept for the retention period defined for the original paper records. Poor storage or protection of the digital images may result in the loss of essential evidence, which can have far-reaching consequences for the organisation.



Even if the original paper records are retained, there are risks to the organisation if digital images are not subject to the same controls as the original paper records. For example, access and security regimes for paper records with sensitive content should equally be applied to the digital images.



Risk mitigation: Organisations should confer with their records management staff to ensure that digital images are stored and controlled appropriately.



Ideally, digital images should be captured into a recordkeeping system, where they can be accessed only by authorised users, secured from unauthorised alteration or deletion, in context with related records, protected from disaster and kept for their required retention periods.



If the organisation does not have a recordkeeping system, digital images need to be kept on a secure drive with stringent security, access controls and backup until the organisation can move them into a recordkeeping system.



Note: Master digital images should not be stored on removable media due to their inherent risks. For more information see Managing removable media in the Managing digital records guidelines.



8. Risk: That duplicates are not managed appropriately



When original paper records are retained, the digital (master) image is already a duplicate. Organisations may also potentially require multiple digital copies at different levels of quality, depending on their purpose.



If these are inefficiently managed, it will be difficult to ascertain which version is the ‘official’ record and to ensure that it survives for as long as it is needed.  The existence of many derivative images may also add to storage and management costs and cause problems in relation to access and security.



Risk mitigation: Organisations should confer with their records management staff to ensure that digital images are managed appropriately. They will also need to adopt a well defined metadata schema with relationships between records to ensure that it is very clear whether the original paper record exists, which is the ‘master’ image and which are derivatives and for what purpose they are to be used.



9. Risk: That digital images will not survive and remain accessible for as long as they are required



Digital images are inherently unstable. Technological obsolescence and media degradation can render them unreadable in relatively short time frames. If digital images are replacing original paper records, and are required as evidence for long periods of time, the organisation will need to consider how to ensure  they survive for as long as they are required.



Risk mitigation: Organisations should confer with their records management staff to ensure that digital records are managed as part of a records management program and that their longevity is planned for. For example, the organisation may be required to plan for, test and implement data and systems migration on an average of 5-7 years in order to maintain information accessibility and integrity. Funds for ongoing management should be defined in business cases and made available when required. Technological and storage decisions will impact on the longevity of images and should be made with care.



The above risks, and any other risks identified, should be considered as part of the planning and management of digitisation programs or projects. If mitigation strategies are built in, organisations can enjoy the benefits digitisation can offer, while avoiding the pitfalls.



 Guidelines



State Records NSW intends to develop detailed guidelines, both for business process digitisation programs and back-capture digitisation projects, which will address how to manage projects, optimise benefits and reduce risks. These will be released in 2012.



In the meantime, please feel free to provide us with feedback through the blog or by email at govrec@records.nsw.gov.au if:

• you want to discuss any particular digitisation problems you are encountering



• you believe you have established a best practice digitisation program or project



• you have found innovative solutions to common digitisation problems



• you would to share your business case for digitisation.

Such information will help us to ensure that the guidelines are beneficial for all NSW organisations undertaking digitisation.

Also of interest:

• Digitisation does not equal digital preservation!



• Exposure draft of digitisation guidance now available

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Grenada and UNESCO: Caribbean Knowledge Societies

Building Caribbean Knowledge Societies: IFAP Conference in Grenada

Over 50 delegates from 13 Caribbean countries gathered for the First UNESCO Regional IFAP Conference in Saint George's, Grenada during the 15th and 17th June 2011. Under the theme "Building Caribbean Knowledge Societies", the Conference aimed to enable Caribbean countries to develop a realistic action plan that would address their development needs and foster the creation of knowledge societies in the region.

Introduction

The concept of Knowledge Societies is founded on the notion of societies which use information and communication tools and resources in a manner that is people-centered, inclusive, and equitable. In Knowledge Societies everyone can freely create, access, utilize, share and disseminate information and knowledge, so that individuals, communities, and peoples are empowered to improve their quality of life and to achieve their full potential.



International thinking about Knowledge Societies came to the fore during the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in 2003 and 2005, which set a series of related goals for 2015. The WSIS follow-up framework provides today a forum in which multiple stakeholders including international organizations, governments, the private sector and civil society can discuss the opportunities of the new information and communication environment.



This consultation will combine the WSIS multi-stakeholder approach with the Information For All Programme (IFAP), which is an intergovernmental body of UNESCO created in 2001 to foster the creation of Knowledge Societies in Member States. IFAP supports knowledge-based processes for attaining national development goals by elaborating and implementing national information policy frameworks in the following five priority areas: Information accessibility, Information for Development, Information Preservation, Information Literacy and Information Ethics. In addition, by disseminating best practices, supporting projects in IFAP’s priority areas and other strategic activities IFAP addresses Member States’ needs in this area.



The event, organized by UNESCO in collaboration with the Government of Grenada, featured the following topics:

• Concept of knowledge societies in the Caribbean context;



• Role of IFAP in building inclusive knowledge societies;



• Outcomes of the World Summit of Information Society (WSIS); and



• UNESCO's work in the follow-up to WSIS.

The delegates are expected to adopt a political declaration on building knowledge societies in the Caribbean and to develop an action plan that would address the specific needs of Caribbean countries in the framework of IFAP. Isidro Fernandez-Aballi, from UNESCO's Kingston Office, expressed his satisfaction over the fact that UNESCO facilitates a conference of such importance in the region. According to him, the time has come for Caribbean leaders to think strategically about building knowledge societies and creating a culture of information for all.



Special guests at the Conference included our Prime Minister of Grenada and Chairman of CARICOM, Tillman Thomas, and the President of the UNESCO General Conference, Davidson Hepburn.

Trying to close the digital divide in the Caribbean

For the second time in a month, a senior Grenada government official has appealed to the region to “fully embrace” Information Communication Technology (ICT) as a tool for the development of the Caribbean region.



Minister of Finance and Acting Prime Minister Nazim Burke on the 15th June 2011 told participants attending the UNESCO Building Caribbean Knowledge Societies Conference that ICT will empower all citizens of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to improve their quality of life and achieve their full potential.

“There is little doubt that Information Communication Technology acts as a vehicle in bringing services to our people where ever they are. These services include e-banking, e-government, e-learning and a gamut of people-centered interactions,” he said. “Even more importantly, ICT brings with it a myriad of opportunities for employment creation, innovation and entrepreneurship hitherto unimaginable in our region.”

“We cannot and must not wait to be pulled along, kicking and screaming, by the forces of globalization and international competition. ICT and its related benefits have been with us for far too long, for our small countries to lose this opportunity for forward movement,” Burke implored participants.

The two-day conference brought together policy makers, ICT experts, civil society representatives, international organizations and other industry leaders to identify the issues and concerns that hinder the region from utilizing ICT to meet the stated objective of developing “knowledge societies.”



This conference cames on the heels of the May 24-27 thirty sixth meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development on Information and Communications Technologies, which discussed the draft Regional Digital Development Strategy and the Draft Regional Implementation Plan for adoption by CARICOM member states.



Minister Burke challenged the meeting to find ways of utilizing Information and Communication Technology to “build a society, in which all our people can access, create, utilize, share and disseminate information and knowledge.”



He noted that while the region has already conceptualized its own Knowledge Network, there is an urgent need to make it operational, with the implementation of CARIBNET in the CARICOM region and OECS Knowledge Network at the sub-regionally level.

“From all indicators, this region is yet to fully embrace the platform created by the ICT revolution. For us in Grenada, we see no meaningful option or alternative,” the Finance Minister stated, noting that the government views ICT as a “transformational sector.”

He outlined a number of steps government has taken that will help to move the sector forward.



Among those measures are the establishment of an ICT Center of Excellence and Innovation, an agreement with the World Bank for Grenada to serve as the pilot in the Caribbean Regional Communications Infrastructure Programme (CARCIP) under which the country will complete the establishment of its national ICT backbone and Grenada’s own Internet Exchange Point (IXP).



Burke said the government is also pushing ahead with plans, announced in its 2011 budget, for the establishment of a new public-private partnership to provide managed IT services, IT infrastructure management, managed network security services, connectivity solutions, data centre services and the programme management of telephony services.



"We cannot continue to run in analogue mode when the world is digital.



To build an effective knowledge society, we must bridge the digital the divide," Education Minister, Senator Franka Bernadine, said at the opening ceremony of the two-day conference at the Grenadian by Rex Resorts.



The conference focuses on building Caribbean knowledge societies.



One way to achieve this, Sen. Bernadine said, is to reduce the digital divide that limits regional nationals from optimizing their full potential.



It requires allowing them more than having access to technology, and greater effort by educators to alert people to the benefits of technology, the Grenadian Minister said.

"Having technology is just the first step.



When government puts laptops and desktops into the hands of teachers and students, they would have only completed the first part of the process," she said.



Other barriers will also have to be broken if we have to build knowledge societies.



It is hoped that the IFAP conference will help to develop a Caribbean action plan with well articulated policies to close the digital divide; aid the regional movement toward knowledge-based societies; and build awareness and understanding of the role IFAP."

IFAP was developed specifically by the executive of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2009 to provide a framework for international corporation and partnership in building an information society for all.



IFAP was created "as a concrete response to the growing technological challenges and opportunities of the nineties which ushered in the age of an information societyand widened the digital divide," said Bryan Raloykow of UNESCO's Paris-based headquarters.



Conference participants, who are drawn from throughout the Caribbean, were urged to translate their deliberations into concrete measures.



"Unless ICT for development initiatives are people-centered and explicitly founded on human rights, they run the risk of reinforcing and exacerbating existing problems," said Davidson Hepburn, President of the General Conference of UNESCO.



You can download the related documents:-

• List of Actions for Building Caribbean Knowledge Societies



• Final Program IFA - Building Caribbean Knowledge Societies (revised 12 June 2011)

* UNESCO's Information for All Programme (IFAP) is an intergovernmental body created in 2000 to assist Member States in the formulation of national information policy frameworks. Through IFAP governments have pledged to harness the new opportunities of the information age to create equitable societies through better access to information.

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Archive Talk - Birth dates and the British Empire

I always feel a mild sense of archivist euphoria when I encounter a document bearing my birth date: 9 July. Certainly the oldest such document I’ve uncovered while working on the ARCHIVE project lives at the Rosenbach Museum and Library: a 9 July, 1657 letter written to John Thurloe, British secretary of state under Oliver Cromwell, from one of his officials on the island of Jamaica. “Imagine,” I thought, staring at the letter, “this was written 330 years to the date before I was born!”



Then, when I read a bit of the letter and discovered it was a sobering missive relating early British colonizers’ attempts to “subdue” the island’s indigenous population. The letter-writer—apparently a British soldier named William Brayne—requests that Thurloe dispatch to the island “bloodhounds” to assist soldiers in “finding and killing” Jamaica’s “wild negroes.” The letter continues:

“I am Confident [that] if his Highness did but know how useful they [the bloodhounds] might be here he would cause some to be speedily sent” (Volume 3, p. 121).

The topic of the letter, though cold and detached, even clinical in the way in which Brayne discusses the topic made me appreciate how the Caribbean islands have grown and developed through a hard history even more. It’s not every day that you read a coolly written letter requesting the tools by which to police (some would say subjugate) an unstable civilization.



Perhaps I shouldn’t have been too surprised, given the years covered by the John Thurloe papers—1655 to 1660. By this time, the British Empire had established its dominion: in parts of the present-day United States, in many of the smaller Caribbean islands, and in Asia, Africa, and other regions. It had also, by this time, established and consolidated a number of trading companies, like the British East India Company, to administer the colonies and capitalize upon their economic possibilities. Furthermore, the Empire had just signed the Treaty of Westminster, ending the first conflicts in the Anglo-Dutch Wars, and was well-embroiled in the Anglo-Spanish War (1654-1660), which was sparked by commercial rivalry and resulted in the English takeover of Jamaica in 1655.



As an aside, more of a note of fact, the "wild negroes" referred to were a people traveling the smaller islands, stretching from St. Thomas to Tobago, a warlike and indomitable race, collectively known as "Charaibes" or "Caribs," who resisted every attempt at colonization on the part of Europeans, and preferred death to the withering slavery that became the fate of the natives of the larger islands. So stubborn was the resistance offered by these dauntless people that settlements in the places held by them were not effected until long after the other islands begun their flourishing plantation and civilized communities.  The group should not be confused with the race of people, who at this same period, lived Cuba, San Domingo, Jamaica, and the other larger islands in the West Indies, they were a mild and timid race, generally called Arouagues by Labat, Du Tetre and other French historians of the 17th century.



By the time the Protectorate collapsed and Thurloe lost his job in 1660, paving the way for the return of the monarchy and the further expansion of the British Empire, the “wild negroes” of Jamaica had been sold into slavery, exploited by British trade groups as free labor for the burgeoning sugar cane and coffee industries. (Enslaved Africans were also transported to the island.) A century later, the Jamaican slaves—who by then well outnumbered their white masters—mounted Tacky’s Revolt, an attempt to overthrown the colonial government. Untypically of many Caribbean islands, Jamaica have more than two centuries of violence and political upheaval.  However, with the changing politics of the Sugar world Jamaica, as with most Caribbean islands, could finally become independent and they achieved this on 6 August, 1962—a mere twenty-five years before my birth, in 1987.



The Thurloe papers at Rosenbach are chock-a-block full of interesting insights into Protectorate-era England (at least for those who can decipher seventeenth-century script).

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Heritage at Risk – Save Melrose House

Save Melrose House

Melrose House - Source: The Willie Redhead Foundation



In August of 2010, many Grenadians became aware of the potential to lose yet another of Grenada’s significant historic heritage sites. In this case, the threat was not from a natural disaster like hurricane Ivan, but from the wrecking ball. Threatened is Melrose House of Gouyave, in St. Johns Parish.



Melrose House, believed to be built in the early to mid-19^th century, is threatened by its new owners who would like it demolished in order to make way for construction of a new hardware store on the site where it currently stands.



The building, believed to be first owned by the Commissiong family, is one of few of its type remaining in Gouyave today.



Melrose House, is a good example of Caribbean Architecture from the mid-19^th century.



It encompassed the combination of French and English elements that defines architecture that is uniquely Caribbean.



One looking to identify the different architectural styles utilized in the design of Melrose House can find French in the steep pitch roof, English in the double-hung windows, and in it raised basement.



The placement of buildings on piers, which help improve ventilation and protects against floods, and the implementation of deep porches that provide shade and shelter for inhabitants and buildings alike, are ideas European builders learned from the building methods.



This point is important, because to a large degree, many in Caribbean populations reject the historic architecture found throughout the Caribbean, on the grounds that they are a vestige of colonial times and lack connection to them. Grenadians are likely no different.



Not only is a landmark like Melrose House representative of the cultural amalgam that defines Grenadian society, but it is part of the historical continuum that connects Grenada’s past and present.



The cavernous underside of Melrose House, where large rum vats were stored, and the existence of Grenada’s longest-ever-built wooden jetty nearby, suggests a connection to Grenada’s industrial heritage past, in which large shipments of rum were exported to Europe.



Between 1930 and 1940, Melrose House transitioned from private to public ownership , and for a period was the residence of successive Attorneys General of the Windward Islands.



Notable among those that resided at Melrose house was Justice Keith Alleyne, the renowned Queens Council, Attorney General of the Windward Islands, and acting Judge of the Windward and Leeward Islands High Court. Sir Louis Cools-Lartigue, who was Chief Secretary of Windward Islands and serve as interim President of Dominica, also resided at Melrose House.



Because Melrose House served as the residence of the Attorneys General of The Windward Islands, the history of the OECS, which succeeded the West Indies Associated States, is replete with the names of persons who at some point stayed there.  The demolition of Melrose House would represent the ripping out of a page in Grenada’s history book.



Declaring Melrose House a national heritage landmark and developing it as a small museum is one way to preserve and protect it from destruction.  This museum can follow the numerous examples of small museums worldwide, whose mission is the preservation of heritage and cultural properties of significance, in order to exhibit they role in the development of societies. Some notable examples of this regionally and globally are: Arlington House, Speightstown, Barbados; Greenwood Great House, Montego Bay, Jamaica; Goethe House in Frankfurt, Germany, and Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, Virginia, US.







Creating The Melrose House Museum would have a direct impact on the town of Gouyave. Combined with a well define historic district, Gouyave would benefit in a variety of ways – most notably through economic activity from increased daily tourist visits and raising the profile of the town as a destination in Grenada.



Melrose House can be the foundation for a national museum system, whose mandate would be the management and preservation of significant heritage buildings and sites throughout all of Grenada.



An INTERCOM 2006 Conference Paper, titled Measuring the Impact of Museums on their Communities: The role of the 21st century museum notes that:



… the value of local museums were the links back to community; opportunities for people to visit, including attending events; the work opportunities (both paid & unpaid) that were available; the wealth that the museum creates in the local community leading to generate money to go back to the community. Broader outcomes were also identified, such as developing an appreciation of place and culture, community pride, museums preserving heritage, and opportunities for learning across all age levels.



Structures like Melrose House (and there are many throughout Grenada) provide an invaluable service, bridging the Grenada of now to that of yesteryear. Through they existence, Grenadians and visitors alike are provided tangible connections to the country’s rich history and heritage.



If the living Grenadian history that Melrose House embodies is allowed to die; if the profits of one business man trumps the interest of an entire nation and it generations to follow, then Grenada must answer some fundamental questions about what it is as a society.  Is Grenada a place that can strike a balance between short term economic gain and long term cultural preservation?  Is Grenada a country with leadership that can devise innovative approaches that enables it to leverage its historic character for both cultural and economic purposes?  And lastly, but probably most important: Are Grenadians willing to fight for the history that so much defines them?



What happens to Melrose House will provide an answer that will reverberate for generations to come.



The Grenada Action Forum will like to acknowledge the contributions of Mr. Ray Smith towards this article and is lifelong dedication to the preservation of Grenada’s heritage and historic places and sites.

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Heritage at Risk – Heritage Tourism Loosing

From “Poems of Life” by Dr. Leonard Merrydale Comissiong (c.1940).



The poem above was written more than seven decades ago, and according to The Sentinel’s view is not very different from our GRENADA TODAY.







After listening to Mr. Simon Stiell – the recently appointed Director of the Board of Tourism, on the George Grant Sunday programme of 20^th March 2011, one gets the feeling of déjà vu, we have heard it all before; but in fairness to Mr. Stiell we should give him the benefit of the doubt in his proposed strategic and pragmatic programme which the Board of Tourism is planning to undertake in the near future in order to remain competitive in the global arena.



 



 



Before going further, the Sentinel would like to congratulate the “Sunday with George Grant” programme in bringing important current national issues to the fore in an effect to educate and inform the Grenadian public. In this particular Sunday programme the public was very vocal in reminding Mr. Stiell of the “Jewel in the Crown”, both of which have been given lip service in the past.



The Crown is of course the tropical paradise of Grenada, and the jewel is its capital city of St. George. As the public by now is generally aware, the Willie Redhead Foundation from its establishment in 1994 has been an active participant in the rescue mission to save our capital city and our natural and cultural heritage in general.







Fort George



“The city of St. George is recognized regionally, and perhaps internationally … The Organisation of American States as early as 1988 designated the city as “a monument of the wider Caribbean”.



Our original mantra in 1994 was “the Willie Redhead Foundation for the preservation and urban renewal of St. George’s”, which was later changed to “the Willie Redhead Foundation for the preservation and renewal of the National Heritage of Grenada”. Over the past sixteen years we have endeavoured to fulfill this mandate in several ways, the most important of which is / was to engage both the past and current administrations of the need to save the “jewel”, but with little or no positive response.



The city of St. George is recognized regionally, and perhaps internationally, as the Georgian Society of the United Kingdom over half a century ago gave it special mention as a unique Georgian town in the Caribbean. After the passing of Hurricane Ivan, in their assessment of the damaged caused, both the World Bank and the Caribbean Development Bank recommended to the then Government that the buildings in the city of St. George should be







Anglican Church - post Ivan



urgently repaired and or restored as the case may be as the historic city (the jewel) is of tremendous value in the economic recovery of Grenada and as a tourism product in particular. The Organisation of American States as early as 1988 designated the city as “a monument of the wider Caribbean”.



But when we examine what has taken place in the town since 1988 we see a city of neglect and perhaps gross abandonment as the Authority responsible for the protection of our built heritage appear not to have an understanding of the value of heritage in nation building and national identity and has become in fact, a part of the problem, when we observe the Regulatory Authority contravening its own regulations when granting building approvals especially in the case of existing heritage buildings.



… the historic city (the jewel) is of tremendous value in the economic recovery of Grenada and as a tourism product in particular.







Unchecked erosion of Tibeau cemetery



In order to comprehend its wanton neglect lets take a look at Fort George with its enormous tourism potential, which has been alluded to by The Willie Redhead Foundation (tWRF) on several occasions in the past, and recently by a product of ST. John, now a United Kingdom Professor in the field of Education namely – Prof. Gus John in his memo to Government Ministers, the Market Square is now a shanty town, together with the buildings around the square, the depressing state of York House and the Governor General’s residence, Edinburgh House at the top of Young Street, the old St. James Hotel-not so long ago the home of the CID, the burnt-out L.A. Purcell store on Halifax Street, Rev. Byer’s family house on Lucas Street, the Anglican and Presbyterian churches also the decaying Forde “Sedan Chair” building and the unsightly and incomplete Lawyer’s office all on Church Street, Bachelor’s Lodge and the old Freida Martin house on Simmons Alley, the Drill Yard complex including the old Ministries of Works, Education and the Museum, not forgetting those on the Carenage and other parts of the town.



The foregoing represents some of the major challenges; coming a close second are the number of small business houses in the town that require a face lift, which need not be an expensive exercise if professional planning and management are employed in its execution, but this require the coordinated will of the business community and meaningful government partnership and perhaps leadership.



The above scenario gives a bird’s eye view of the state of Heritage Preservation in the city of St. George, and begs the question whether heritage preservation / restoration is recognized by the powers that be as a developmental component in its National Development Programme.







Abandon Building on the Carenage



This is the challenge which the Director of Tourism will have to confront and address in a meaningful way if the “jewel” is to be saved from the unrelenting pressures from both man and the forces of nature.



Although the challenges are daunting, it can still be accomplished with dedication and singularity of purpose. In this regard the Willie Redhead Foundation stands ready to assist in accomplishing the desired result, in order that our HERITAGE TOURISM product may become the envy of our Caribbean neighbours. There must be however a serious commitment at capitalizing on the enormous economic potential of this sector which could become a major contributor to our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and a sign of our blossoming cultural maturity as seen in Curacao, Aruba, Bermuda, St. Kitts and Barbados.

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Heritage at Risk - No Way To Treat A National Monument

No Way To Treat A National Monument

House House pre Hurricane Ivan



It has been almost seven years since Hurricane Ivan devastated Grenada and astonishingly many of our country’s important historic monuments remain in disrepair.



In many cases, the damage inflicted by Ivan and Emily (the following year) on these important sites have been compounded by neglect on the part of the government and private owners.



Significant among the many buildings threatened are York House and Government House. Unfortunately, the cost of restoration for these important historic Grenadian heritage sites have increased since 2004 largely because simple steps, such as decking open roofs, were not taken.



York House suffered roof damages from Ivan and Emily but the interior of the building was left to incur further damage from weather elements. Had the interior of the building been immediately protected, the amount of work needed to return the building to full functionality would have been contained primarily to restoration of the roofing system.



As with the Anglican Church, the hurricane dislodged the rafters, but many of the rafters were not damaged. Those that were damaged were repairable for reuse.







York House Today



This point is important because re-use of as much of the previous material obviously would mean a cost savings for the rebuilding process.



It is easy to see from the outside (pictured above) that it appears the hurricanes had only a limited affected on the standing walls of York house. If this is indeed so and the standing walls were structurally sound, then steps should have been taken to rebuild the rafters soon after the hurricane. And of course, strengthening their ability to withstand similar hurricane conditions should have occurred. If this had happened, on-going damage to York House would have been mitigated and arrested by the installation temporary roofing.



In the pantheon of important heritage sites in Grenada, York House is among the most significant, if not the most significant. So it is a national shame that such a symbolic structure has been allowed to languish in disrepair for so long.



The placement of high importance in the preservation of culture and heritage by Grenadians and the Grenadian government must be questioned, when one witnesses the neglect of monuments like York House and similar significant heritage sites – neglect that, in some instances, preceded hurricane Ivan.



After World War II, Germany understood that it could not allow the war to define the country and its culture. As a result, Germany went about rebuilding towns like Rottenberg ob Der Tauber and town centers like Roemer Platz in Frankfurt, to exacting detail of what they were before destruction by the war, to ensure that their rich history was not lost and would be carried forward to succeeding generations.



Consequently, the investment the Germans made to restore damaged towns and monuments have returned dividends to Germany’s economy. Today, these restored monuments are key to, and feature prominently in, the country’s tourism strategy.



By allowing a significant place like York House to incur damages beyond that caused by Hurricane Ivan, Grenada runs the risk of the storm defining its history and heritage. Six and a half years after Ivan, the slow pace of restoration to preeminent structures like York House hurts Grenada’s ability to leverage one of it key assets in distinguishing itself from all Caribbean islands competing for tourists. This dilution in the strength of the Grenadian tourism product invariably affects the country’s economy, given its considerable size in the Gross Domestic Product.



Restoration of iconic structures like York House by Grenada’s government is an investment in Grenada. In the short term it may appear that there is mutual exclusivity between fixing roads or building housing and repairing historic structures. But in the long term, all are of equal importance to the sustainable of Grenada.



The overall positive impact of the repair and restoration of these treasured national symbols should not be underestimated – not only for the significant sustainable employment opportunities and economic activity that will be generated but also for its therapeutic effect on national psyche and pride (as has been noted with the repairs and restoration of the two historic churches so far in St. George’s – Methodist and Roman Catholic Church – and the St. John’s Anglican Church in Gouyave.



The repair and restoration of York House, and other heritage monuments , must be moved to a higher level of priority in Grenada. This is not a luxury. It is an imperative.

 

WE NEED ACTION - Help Restore Grenada's Major Landmarks

The Willie Redhead Foundation (tWRF) begun a project back in 2008 to raise funds to assist with the restoration of four of Grenada's historic churches in St. George’s which were severely damaged by hurricanes Ivan in September 2004 and Emily the following July.  The Foundation is hopeful that it will continue to receive public support for this initiative even in these difficult economic times.



Of the four churches, we are happy to record the successful restoration of two – namely the Methodist on Green Street which was given “Patrimonial recognition” by the award of a tWRF plaque in November 2010.







Interior - Roman Catholic Cathedral



The other is the recent completion of the Roman Catholic Cathedral on Church Street. The two remaining churches that have not yet begun work are the Anglican and the Presbyterian.



The restoration focus has therefore been mainly in the town of St. George but a Project that has recently caught the eye of the Sentinel, is that of another church in Gouyave which was also damaged by hurricane Ivan, namely “the church of St. John the Divine”, generally known as the St. John’s Anglican Church.



A recent visit to the church was both revealing and rewarding. Revealing, in that the mover of the restoration initiative – Rev Junior Ballantyne, appear to understand the relevance and importance of recording/ preserving the history of our built or cultural heritage for posterity.  There was no tinkering with the original design of the building, no trying to improve or out do the original concept through “modernizing” the traditional seating arrangement.  With pains-taking diligence, [they have] executed a heritage restoration project that is the admiration of all who behold it, [and is] in keeping with the teachings of Christ which remain unchanged and unpolluted for over two millennia.



“The church of St. John the Divine” or the Gouyave Anglican Church was built in 1866 which makes it 165 years old. The records however shows that there was a previous church on the site in the “latter part of the eighteenth century, as during the Fedon rebellion of 1795, The Rev. Francis Mc Mahon then Rector of the parish was one of the three who had been captured and not killed”



The restored Anglican Church to the south and the Rectory and Pastoral Centre to the north of the street which bisect the complex, together comprise an impressive urban environment and enhances that part of the town of Gouyave which in the Sentinel’s view could be regarded as aesthetically and ecologically friendly in pursuance of a green environment.



While the restored structure of the church which is easily recognizable from the outside, the inside of the Church is just as impressive, which shows a respect for historicity, while taking advantage of modern technology as exemplified in the sensitive restoration of the wooden roof trusses; the reconstruction of the mezzanine floor for the choir, the delicate restoration of the large stained glass window behind the main altar, the detailed ornate reproduction of the Pulpit and the Lectern, the polished purple-heart pews, the restored marble wall plaques- all combine in producing an atmosphere or ambiance of serenity and spiritual uplift so necessary in a turbulent world, full of stress, violence and confrontation.



The curtilage (surroundings) of the church must not go unmentioned, where the graves of outstanding citizens of the parish are cleaned and repaired, in some cases with the restoration of the inscription of their headstones, providing historic information of great Anglicans, nay Grenadian personalities of the past, and not to be outdone, the apex of the steeple now has a light which provides a beacon to guide fishermen at sea.



The Willie Redhead Foundation through its organ- “the Sentinel”, takes this opportunity to express our delight in the accomplishment of this outstanding heritage project and to say CONGRATULATIONS ARE INDEED IN ORDER to Rev. Ballantyne and the Anglican community of Gouyave and St. John’s as a whole. May the supreme Architect continue to guide you all to greater heights to come.

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Preservation: Conservation Materials

Book Maintenance Materials

	Acid-Free Boxboard
	Archival Papers & Films
	Corrugated Board
	Ethafoam/Polyethylene Foam
	Japanese & Marbled Papers
	Polyester Sheets & Rolls

Cleaning Materials

	Cleaning Swabs, 36-Piece Kit Each Cleaning Swab Kit contains 36 swabs, including 6 each of six different styles of various widths and lengths. Each swab consists of a white polypropylene handle with a white polyurethane foam head. Price per package of 36.
	Conservation Tack Mats Rely on Tack Mats to prevent contaminates from invading conservation labs, archives and clean rooms from soiled cart wheels and foot wear. Each 40 sheet Tack Mat features 1.5mm low density, clear polyethylene sheets containing anti-microbial agents in the adhesive ... read more
	Document Cleaning Pad Lineco's Document Cleaning Pads are recommended for cleaning dusty, dirty, or moldy paper items. These pads contain a soft, grit-free powder that absorbs and cleans surface dirt from paper. Price each. Additional cleaning powder also available in a two pound ... read more
	Dry Cleaning Sponges Made of vulcanized natural rubber, our dry cleaning sponges will effectively remove soot and smoke damage form wallpaper, painted metal and wood surfaces, fabrics and a variety of additional surfaces. Widely used for clean-up following fire damage, the cleaning applications ... read more
	Dust-Off Plus A clean, moisture-free controlled flow of canned air that quickly removes dust, dirt, lint and repair debris from valuable documents, photographs and equipment. The new vector valve moves up and down 180 degrees and sweeps 360 degrees allowing pinpoint accuracy ... read more

Conservation Tools

	Luxo Lighted Magnifiers The finest industrial grade magnifier lamps made, with the magnification power that's wanted and the illumination that's needed. Features the Luxo's patented K-arm with perfect balancing, internal spring system. Die-cast metal shade houses removable 3 or 5 diopter lens. Optional ... read more
	Porta-Trace Light Box Table Units Solid oak trim mounted on sturdy baked white enamel legs makes this newest addition to the Porta-Trace line attractive in any decor. Features a 4-tilt adjustment from 0 to 40 degrees. Easily assembled with 14 bolts. Two sizes are offered, ... read more
	Binocular Magnifier This Binocular Magnifier is for precision work and is worn on the head to leave both hands free. Precision ground and polished prismatic lenses. Adjustable headband may be worn over glasses. Three interchangeable lenses for 6" (2.6 magnification), 8" (2.2 ... read more
	Acrylic Press Boards These inert, clear, 0.5" thick acrylic sheets have smoothed edges and corners. A variety of stock sizes are offered.
	Benchmark Miniature Drill Bits You will need to drill holes for your pins if you are pinning into materials such as plywood, Masonite, laminate or Plexiglas. We offer two sizes of drill bits for each diameter of our pins. The ''drop fit'' bits are ... read more
	Berna Multi Clamps This unique clamping tool can be used with one hand to set delicate objects without risk of damage. A pair of clear, 4" polycarbonate "jaws" are attached to a highly rigid carbon fiber composite rod. The soft, heat resistant, silicone ... read more
	Bone Clasps/Lid Pins The art of Japanese bookbinding challenges the imagination and creative talents of the craftsperson. Bone clasps are useful to add the finishing touch to this process. Four sizes are offered. Price per dozen of the same size.
	Book Press with Brass Edges This versatile press is a must for all bookbinding work. Used by both the professional and the hobbyist it combines the features of a backing press, finishing press, standing press and brass-edged boards. Two vertical edges reinforced with brass strip.The ... read more
	Book Suction Table This compact Book Suction Table is manufactured from stainless steel to withstand very high vacuum pressure which is especially useful when cleaning a small area with the rest of the platen masked off. The working surface is approximately 15" x ... read more
	Checktemp Checktemp is destined to make glass thermometers obsolete. Glass thermometers are hazardous to the user and the environment. The glass contains lead and the measurement media is either mercury or alcohol. Checktemp is an all-in-one unit that combines aprobe and ... read more
	Conservation Work Trays Quality, heavy weight, high impact polyethylene plastic trays for a variety of conservation uses. Excellent for bleaching or deacidification by immersion. These trays are solid white, seamless, and possess a corrosion resistant surface. The handy pouring corner is useful for ... read more
	Digital Psychrometer Introducing a new digital precision temperature and humidity instrument which features high accuracy and fast response. This hand-held unit requires no twirling or reading of charts and includes a handy pocket clip. Features include data hold, an F/C switch, min/max ... read more
	Drying Rack This all-steel rack includes a heavy-duty angle base, exclusive tray-lock system for supporting trays in up position, and 2 rubber spacers on each tray. Very sturdy and maintenance free, the rack consists of 40 trays and measures 45.5" H with ... read more
	Dusting Brushes Four styles of dusting brushes are yours for the choosing. The Comfort Curve model has a curved handle 15.5'' long that holds sterilized mixed horsehair in a single row of tufts to provide a stiff brushing action. The traditional dusting ... read more
	Humidity Indicator Certified Hygrometer Get relative humidity and temperature reading at a glance. This hygrometer is certified to be accurate within +/- 3% and indicates the complete range of 0 to 100% humidity. The bimetallic thermometer is accurate to 105 of scale and has ... read more
	Hygrocheck Relative Humidity Tester Hygrocheck uses the advanced Thin Film Polymer Capacitance sensing method to measure humidity and an integrated electronic circuit to perform all relative conversions. A complete measurement range of 10% to 90% RH and 3% accuracy across the entire range,make Hygrocheck ... read more
	Japanese Horsehair Strainer An ideal tool used to strain paste after cooking, especially following storage and re-cooking. Removes any lumps or foreign matter creating a smooth, consistent paste. Manufactured from top quality natural materials. Horsehair mesh, 8'' diameter.
	Jumbo Display Thermo-Hygrometer The large, easy-to-read digital display makes all the difference. Each unit features a F/C switch and min/max memory. Temperature range is 14 tp 122 degrees Fahrenheit with a humidity range of 10% to 99% (+/- 5%). Powered by one AAA ... read more
	Microcomputer pH Meter This portable pH Meter utilizes an advanced microprocessor to perform pH, ORP, ISE and temperature measurements with high accuracy and fast response. The mV measurements automatically switch from 0.1 to 1 mV resolution when the reading reaches 400mV. Temperature effects ... read more
	Paper and Book Press STANDARD: Classic design delivers even controllable pressure for paper and books up to 10'' x 12'' with 6" of daylight between the press floor and platen. Papermakers can make paper with a professional finish. Paper dried slowly under pressure delivers ... read more
	Staple Extractor A specialized conservation tool used for extracting wire staples from paper, pamphlets, or magazines preparatory for sewing. Tapered blade and dull edge will not mar the paper as will other types of staple pullers. Smooth wooden handle. Price each.
	Teflon Bone Folders This new style of ''bone'' folder is manufactured from Teflon. Available in two sizes, each T-Bone Folder features a hard pointed end for creasing and flat, tapered end for burnishing. The smooth Teflon surface provides a new dimension not previously ... read more
	Brushes
	Gloves
	Hand Tools
	Weights

Deacidification Solutions & Equipment

	Bookkeeper Deacidification Spray Neutralize acidic paper with Bookkeeper Deacidification spray. Magnesium Oxide is the neutralizing agent in Bookkeeper which permanently ''fixes'' in the cellulosic fibers and on the paper's surface. Bookkeeper uses only non-toxic and non-hazardous materials and dries odor-free on treated ... read more
	Buffering Solutions 230 ml Prepared with analytical grade chemicals under the stringent ISO 9002 regulations.
	ColorpHast Indicator Strips Non-bleeding ColorpHast pH Indicator Strips are easy to use. Distinctions between pH levels are facilitated by sharp contrasts between adjacent color squares. A matched colored scale is provided for each pH measurement. Strips are accurate to 0.5 pH limits. Excellent ... read more
	Conservation Work Trays Quality, heavy weight, high impact polyethylene plastic trays for a variety of conservation uses. Excellent for bleaching or deacidification by immersion. These trays are solid white, seamless, and possess a corrosion resistant surface. The handy pouring corner is useful for ... read more
	Humidity Control Cassettes These humidity control cassettes are constructed from perforated stainless steel. designed to hold Art-Sorb and various brands of silica gel beads. Keeps beads away from works of art and provides easy access for reconditioning. The high quality humidity cassettes are ... read more
	Materials Testing Kit Environmental acids are a danger to any collection. This kit provides information and supplies to aid in the testing of construction materials. The Materials Testing Kit includes 24 glass jars, acid detection strips, tweezers, silver coupons, lead coupons, aluminum foil, ... read more
	PaperSaver Deacidification Solution PaperSaver is an easy-to-use system that provides a major advancement in value, effectiveness, and safety for paper preservation through deacidification. The PaperSaver formula is a spray whose active ingredients, when sprayed on normal weight papers,neutralizes acids immediately and for ... read more
	Quicksilver The internationally patented Quicksilver method is the most advanced system available for cleaning sterling and silver plate. A 12'' x 12'' perforated electrolytic alloy metal grid creates a very controlled, low intensity magnetic field which is just strong enough to ... read more
	Stainless Steel Conservation Work Trays Heavy duty, 22 gauge, stainless steel work trays are corrosion resistant and feature a seamless, curved corner design. Unlimited uses in the conservation lab. Price each.

Other Materials

	100% white cotton rag pulp Pre-shredded and blender friendly. Made from 100% white cotton rag pulp. 8 oz.
	Acid-Free Dust Jacket Protectors A specially made Dust Jacket Protector for museums and archives, University Products' style "A" Dura-Clear Dust Jacket Protectors are made of a 1.5" mil inert polyester and acid-free backing paper with an acid-free adhesive. These popular Dust Jacket Protectors, manufactured ... read more
	Adjustable Rare Book Storage Box Create your own storage boxes for your valuable rare books and documents with these acid-free 20 point boards. These soil-resistant cream color boards are scored every 0.25'' for easy folding and are available in a wide range of sizes. Enclosure ... read more
	Beeswax Beeswax is the traditional material used by conservators and book binders for waxing thread to make difficult sewing jobs easier to accomplish. Sold in 1 oz. blocks.
	Binder's Thread A natural color # 10 cotton binding thread specifically made for heavy duty book repairs. Available in 1500 yard spools. Price each.
	Binding Tape Genuine linen tape is closely woven for strength; 0.375" width accommodates most popular size books.
	Binding Thread Strong genuine Irish linen thread. For hand sewing. Expands with moisture to prevent tears in paper.
	Book Deodorizer 16 oz. The perfect solution to a smelly problem. These treated granules absorb moisture and odors. Use to treat books, paper, clothing or other inanimate objects. It will remove cigarette smoke, mildew odors and general mustiness. These granules are an inert and ... read more
	Book Plates Book Plates offer an excellent means of recognizing patrons' generosity as well as identifying special collections. Available in styles A or B. Printed in black ink on white gummed paper. They are made of acid-free white 20# Perma/Dur paper with ... read more
	Book Repair Kit A first of its kind, do-it-yourself repair kit for hardbound and paperback books which celebrates the practice and process of preserving and repairing books. Access for the first time to the tools, papers, repair tapes and other archival materials used ... read more
	Book Repair Tape Both the 1" and 2" tapes are used to hinge covers, reinforce pamphlets, repair covers and loose pages. They use a strong, acid-free linen fabric coated with neutral pH adhesive. While the repair is permanent the tape may be removed ... read more
	Book Repair Wings Book Repair Wings offer an inexpensive means of reinforcing book spines and corners. One size fits most books and no measuring or cutting is needed. Book Repair Wings are made of the same long lasting cloth material as our cloth ... read more
	Bookbinders' Needles Sized to accommodate sturdy bookbinding threads, these needles have a length that is easy to handle and a slightly blunted point to reduce paper snags. Manufactured from the finest grade steel. Price per package.
	Bookbinding Instruction Video - Binding an Early 19th Century Book in Period-Style Leather In this Bookbinders Workshop Instructional Series, Mr. Michael Chrisman demonstrates the complete and historically correct rebinding of an early 19th Century book in period-style leather. He begins with a book that is lacking its entire binding and which needs to ... read more
	Bookbinding Instruction Video - Re-backing and Restoration of an Early 18th Century Binding In this Bookbinders Workshop Instructional Series, Mr. Michael Chrisman demonstrates the complete and historically correct re-backing and restoration of an early 18th century book, London, 1728. The project begins with the cover boards detached, paste-downs that had floated off over ... read more
	Bookbinding Instruction Video - Tips From the Bookbinders Bench In this Bookbinders Workshop Instructional Series, Mr. Michael Chrisman teaches many tips from his book restoration bench that will greatly aid both the practicing and beginning bookbinder and book restorer. This DVD includes tips that will beautifully enhance any book ... read more
	Bookboard Punch This heavy-duty alloy steel punch has a hardened cutting edge which is used to punch holes in bookboard for binding with ribbon. Creates a clean 0,25'' diameter hole. Price each.
	Cellugel This effective consolidant for deterioration, powdery leather was developed by professional book conservators. Cellugel is essentially a mixture of hydroxpropyl cellulose and isopropanol. Cellulose ethers have been used by book and paper conservators for years for the purpose of sizing ... read more
	Cellulose Gum (SCMC) In a 2 - 4% solution, this SCMC is used for a variety of conservation applications including as an adhesive, poultice, consolidant, and cleansing agent, as well as in the creation of art or decorative objects, just to name a ... read more
	Cleaning Swabs, 36-Piece Kit Each Cleaning Swab Kit contains 36 swabs, including 6 each of six different styles of various widths and lengths. Each swab consists of a white polypropylene handle with a white polyurethane foam head. Price per package of 36.
	Color Mount Permanent Dry Mounting Tissue A dry mounting adhesive developed to permanently bond RC photos and slick posters as well as regular papers. Color Mount offers great versatility and low temperature convenience (185-205 degrees F). Its ''breathability'' makes is ideal for both non-porous and high-moisture ... read more
	Cotton Book Tape This sturdy web cotton twill tape is used for sewing signatures together on the sewing frame; also useful for tying. Easier to use than the stiffer linen tapes. Price each.
	Covering Materials NEW Our faux leather coverings feel and look like real leather; soft and supple, while the metallic sheets have a very modern look. The ostrich features a delicate embossing and the pure white has a light gloss finish. All these materials ... read more
	Disposable Glue Brushes Designed for bookbinding and adhesive applications, the dense natural bristles load and carry lots of glue and spread glue evenly over large surfaces. Metal free construction will not rust.
	Dry Mounting Press These presses are simple to operate when you are dry mounting, laminating, or backing prints, photos, posters, maps, charts or any frequently handled item which you would like to protect and preserve. They are durable and allow maximum pressure ... read more
	DRY-LAM Colortac Removable Breathable Dry Mount Tissue DRY-LAM Dry Mount Tissue is an excellent general purpose tissue that works well with RC or Fiber based prints. The new formulation is developed for maximum versatility. It has a very low activating temperature of 165 degrees F for use ... read more
	E-Flute Corrugated Rare Book Boxes Quick and easy, this E-Flute corrugated is strong and offers maximum support for fragile books or books in parts. Simply measure height and width then mark the board and score with a scoring wheel (included). Each package contains 5 sheets ... read more
	Economical Glue Brushes We've added an extensive line of quality, economical glue brushes. Two styles are available. The 80% bore bristle/20% synthetic bristle brushes are soft and pliable, with ergonomically designed handles. They are easy to clean, and good for glue or paste. ... read more
	European Bookcloth Strong, close-weave European cloth is backed with acid-free paper for easy application. A variety of color options are available. Choose the size and quantity that's right for you.
	Extra-Heavy Duty Awl A wooden ball handle fits the hand comfortably for heavy duty punching while providing good control. Price each.
	Fiskars Book Drill An ergonomically designed handle fits securely and comfortably in the palm of your hand for prolonged use without fatigue. This hand drill is especially handy for use with the fine drill bits used in bookbinding. Includes easily interchangeable drill bits, ... read more
	Fusion 4000 Plus Fusion 4000 is an adhesive (.003 thick) that has a completely neutral pH balance. The thermoplastic adhesive melts in the heating process, becomes transparent and adheres rapidly. Low temperature (160 degrees F) Fusion 4000 is formulated for general mounting applications ... read more
	Genuine Bone Folders This selection of genuine bone folders offers a variety of different design elements that increase the versatility of the tool while providing additional comfort to the user. These shape of the 005-905B was inspired by the sewing and quilting craft ... read more
	Glaze Padding Compound Make your own pads, forms, etc. with our easy-to-use padding compound. Simply stack pages flush, brush with compound and allow time to dry. Paper may easily be removed from finished pads one at a time. Price each.
	Heavy Duty Awl A large handle allows control and a strong grip. The fine point produces holes properly sized for sewing.
	Heavy-Duty Spatula This heavy-duty stainless steel spatula proves to be an indispensable tool in book repair and conservation work. You will find a number of uses for this 7"L tool including paste or adhesive application, corner lifting or burnishing (when applying repair ... read more
	Hinged Cambric Cloth Tape Use this tape to reinforce and reattach book covers, hinge music scores, reinforce pamphlets, etc. Acid-free white cambric tape has neutral pH water activated adhesive and is scored on the center to make hinging a snap. Roll is 1" x ... read more
	Light Duty Awl A light duty awl adequate for many bookbinding projects. The fine point produces holes properly sized for sewing.
	Lineco 3/8'' Linen Binding Tape This tape is unbleached and unsized, and suitable for sewing signatures. Measures 60" long. Price per package.
	Lineco Art Gum Eraser This unique formula eraser is totally nonabrasive and useful on cloth, paper and boards. Gentile pressure produces deep cleaning on most surfaces. Size is 1" x 1" x 2". Price per dozen.
	Lineco Cotton Head Band Material Use this white head band material for making codex style and casebound books. Made of 100% cotton. Ivory in color, 60". Price per package.
	Lineco Linen Thread Unwaxed and unbleached, this 35/3 gauge Linen Thread is perfect for bookbinding. The thread comes in 50 yd. spools. Price each.
	Lineco Waxed Linen Thread Great for bookbinding, crafts and art projects, this 5-ply natural linen thread is lightly waxed for easy use. This set includes three 20 yd. spools of black, orange and purple, sure to enhance the look of sewn projects. Price per ... read more
	Medium Duty Awl Made of stainless steel and featuring a beautifully designed curved handle, this awl combines excellent control and good punching force. Price each.
	Methyl Cellulose Adhesive A neutral pH, water reversible adhesive that drys clear. Use for repair, gluing end sheets and general archival adhesive applications.
	Old Master Leather Conditioner Old Master Leather Conditioner is the result of many years of research. It preserves and protects bookbinding leathers in a natural, organic way. It is a blend of pure, natural oils that also prevents mold and mildew, and discourages the ... read more
	Phase Box Riveter One of the best ways to protect old or rare books from damage caused by temperature and humidity changes, pollutants, light and the physical stresses of shelving is to create a phase box tailored to each book. Use this riveter ... read more
	Plastic Bone Folders These plastic bone folders are an invaluable tool for creasing archival papers. Use for creating you own folders and other storage devices. 8'' long with rounded edges and tapered body. Price each.
	Polyester Transparent Tape - 3M No. 850 A polyester tape coated with an acrylic adhesive similar to 3M's 415 tape but adhesive coated on one side only. Excellent for edge sealing plastic enclosures. Each roll is 72 yards long. Price per roll.
	Pre-shred Cotton Linters Get detailed paper casts with bright white cotton linters. Linters are pre-shredded and easy to use. Simply add water to cotton linter in a kitchen blender to hydrate. Complete instructions on package for casting. 8 oz. bag makes 50 medium ... read more
	Quick Bind Tape Two pieces of gummed tape are sewn together with the adhesive facing outward. The pamphlet is attached to one side, the covers are attached to the other to form a book. 2" x 36".
	Rare Book Identa-Strips University Products' acid-free and lignin-free Identa-Strips provide easy identification of shelved rare books. A die-cut tab prevents slippage into the book when vertically shelved. these acid-free Identa-Strips won't discolor pages of books into which they are inserted. Tab is located ... read more
	Screw Posts and Extensions Our screw posts are just the thing for creating albums, journals and homemade books. Price per package of three posts.
	Silk Headbands Attractive finishing touch for bound books, 6'' length
	Small Spatula The ideal tool for lifting or slitting paper, applying paste to small areas and numerous other tasks. Metal; one end tapered, one rounded. Flexible springy ends easily bend to shape. Overall length 7.5''. Price each.
	Spine Repair Tape This book repair tape is a vinyl coated cloth tape that is water and abrasion resistant. It has a matte finish, which makes it esthetically preferable and easily conforms to the contour of book spines. Each 2" x 15 yard ... read more
	Superior Quality Bookcloth University Products is pleased to offer two of the very best European Book cloths available. Brillianta book cloth is a strong, uncoated, rayon fabric which works well with adhesives, including our own white, Neutral pH Adhesive. It is backed ... read more
	Unbleached Cotton Tying Tape This soft, unbleached tying tape is invaluable for tying bundles of books and periodicals to be sent to the binder or for tying together damaged books while they await repair. Non-abrasive with no dye to bleed. Spool of 1000 yards. ... read more
	Unbuffered Conservation Quality Blotting Paper This archival quality unbuffered blotting paper, in large sheets (30" x 40"), and (40" x 60") has a pH of approximately 8.0, a soft textured surface and is highly absorbent. 369gsm, 135 lb. Price per carton.

Conservation Tapes and Adhesives

	Book Repair Tape Both the 1" and 2" tapes are used to hinge covers, reinforce pamphlets, repair covers and loose pages. They use a strong, acid-free linen fabric coated with neutral pH adhesive. While the repair is permanent the tape may be removed ... read more
	Book Repair Wings Book Repair Wings offer an inexpensive means of reinforcing book spines and corners. One size fits most books and no measuring or cutting is needed. Book Repair Wings are made of the same long lasting cloth material as our cloth ... read more
	Cellulose Gum (SCMC) In a 2 - 4% solution, this SCMC is used for a variety of conservation applications including as an adhesive, poultice, consolidant, and cleansing agent, as well as in the creation of art or decorative objects, just to name a ... read more
	Document Repair Tape This very thin and extremely transparent pressure sensitive document repair tape is non-yellowing, removable with solvents, and has a neutral pH. To use, dispense a length of tissue, place over the tear, and burnish with a bone folder. Working the ... read more
	Fish Gelatin Sheets of amber clear fish gelatin. Should first be soaked and then dissolved in a double boiler. Imported from Italy. Sheets measure approximately 9" x 2.5". Price per package of 12 sheets.
	Fish Glue A high-tack adhesive, light tan color. Free of salt but will shrink upon drying. Adding 10% glycerin will give greater flexibility and reduce shrinkage. This product is commonly used as an adhesive in furniture restoration where long drying times are ... read more
	Hayaku Japanese Hinging Paper Hayaku is a Japanese Mulberry Paper coated with acid-free water activated adhesive. This extremely strong, long fibered hinging material saves both time and money and has passed the Photo Activity Test. It is used for hinging works of art on ... read more
	Hinged Cambric Cloth Tape Use this tape to reinforce and reattach book covers, hinge music scores, reinforce pamphlets, etc. Acid-free white cambric tape has neutral pH water activated adhesive and is scored on the center to make hinging a snap. Roll is 1" x ... read more
	Wheat Starch A very carefully purified, uncooked food-grade wheat starch. When cooked, it makes a superior smooth wheat paste adhesive. NOTE: Must be cooked. Click on the RESOURCES tab to see the recipe.
	White Neutral pH Adhesive Lineco acid-free adhesive has excellent lay-flat properties and dries clear. Easy to use polyvinyl acetate (PVA) formula is fast setting and re-moistenable with water. This adhesive was formulated specifically for preservation materials and will not become brittle with ... read more

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