| About The Department | |
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Preservation
Department |
The University of Hawaii at Manoa Library’s Preservation Department preserves the Library’s collections in all formats using current professional standards and contributes to the Library’s mission by caring for collections so that they are available to users.
Preservation Department Programs
The Preservation Department is responsible for protecting the University of Hawaii at Manoa Library collections. It is the only professional preservation department in any library or archive in the state. Like other universities, the library collections have also grown to include archives, manuscripts, microfilm, architectural drawings, art collections, newspapers, photographs, maps, electronic media (e.g. audio, video), posters, and digital information. Among these diverse resources there is a tremendous variation in life expectancy and the rate of deterioration is hastened by Hawaii’s hot, humid conditions. Preservation Department programs work to stabilize collections by taking a preventative approach to caring for this important research collection.
Books and journals require binding to withstand the rigors of library use. Library bindings are a sturdy and inexpensive way to protect printed library materials. Approximately 1000 monographs and 1,200 serials are sent to the commercial bindery every month. The Northwest Bindery is located in Walla Walla, Washington, and it takes five to seven weeks for items to be bound and returned to the shelves.
Some materials, such as brittle books, are too fragile to be preserved and must be copied in some way to preserve their content. Traditional methods for copying materials include microfilming and photocopying according to preservation standards established by the American Library Association (ALA) and the Research Libraries Group (RLG). Microfilm is a stable medium that when properly cared for will last 300-500 years. By microfilming Hawaiian and Pacific collection newspapers we are able to make microfilm copies available to libraries throughout the world. Nearly 100 newspapers or books (150,000 pages) are reformatted each year.
Library materials that are fragile and/or valuable are given customized treatment in-house. Preservation assessments of library materials are made through collection surveys. Books are re-sewn by hand and damaged covers replaced. Custom boxes are constructed to protect books with brittle paper, or unique bindings. Maps and other oversize materials are encapsulated between sheets of polyester film so that they can be used safely by researchers. Archival collections are placed in acid free folders and protective boxes. Other skilled conservation treatments include hinge tightening, paper repair, protective covers for pamphlets. More than 3,000 items receive custom conservation treatment annually.
By maintaining a proactive pest management program, the Preservation Department diminishes the damage to library collections by insects (e.g. Cigarette beetle, silverfish, cockroach). Freezing of all incoming gifts is a preventative measure that keeps harmful insects out of the library collections. Around 20,000 books are treated annually by controlled freezing or fumigation. Library collections are monitored to identify pest infestation or microenvironments that provide the right combination of environmental factors for mold growth.
The Preservation Department coordinates the Library’s disaster response procedures to facilitate the recovery of library collections damaged by fire, water or wind. Disaster recovery is tailored to the requirements of each different type of library collection.
The Preservation Department Web page is new and is still under construction. Don't forget to check out the department photo album. If you notice any errors, omissions or have any comments, please contact us. Mahalo for your patience while we are completing and updating the site.
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