Preservation Management Specialization
By Adrienne Bell
By Adrienne Bell
Being in the Preservation Management specialization means learning to look at libraries from a completely different perspective. Rather than concentrating on program development or cataloging, I spend time learning about the materials within libraries themselves. For instance, did you know that over an extended period of exposure, light causes irreversible harm to printed materials? Another concern covered in preservation courses is the damage brought about by pests and rodents in the stacks, hence the ban on eating in the library.
One of the key tenets to preservation is the idea of stopping something before it starts. Humidity and temperature are monitored in order to create an ideal environment for storing materials. This ensures that paper, which absorbs water from the air around it, will not swell due to high humidity and become warped. Disasters such as fire or flooding must be planned for before they occur so that each step of the response can occur systematically and so that everyone involved will know the roles they are supposed to play.
Another main responsibility in preservation is teaching others why these concerns are important as well as educating library staff and patrons about how to handle the materials in their care and what signs of damage or decay to look for.
Having a Preservation Department within the University Library Systems has meant that I’ve had the opportunity to get some hands-on training in basic book repair, disaster preparation preparations, microfilm testing, and brittle book assessment. Working under the Preservation Librarian has also given me an increased understanding of the responsibilities of the job I am studying to perform.
With the upcoming expansion of the course offerings within the Preservation Management specialization, I anticipate continued communication with SIS to determine what additional coursework I could add to my resume in the future. As one of only three universities in the United States who offer a specialization in Preservation Management, the University of Pittsburgh will remain an important source of training and information for me as I move from the student into the professional arena.
Publication of the Department of Library &
Information Science
University of Pittsburgh
135 N. Bellefield Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
Last updated May 30, 2003