CIC Task Force on Mass Deacidification

Since its formation in 1989, the CIC Task Force on Mass Deacidification
has endeavored to identify and implement practical steps toward
positioning the thirteen CIC Libraries to take action on mass
deacidification.

The Task Force has two broad areas of concern in pursuing mass
deacidification:  chemical, and organizational.   Before the CIC
Libraries can proceed with mass deacidification, satisfactory progress
must be made in investigating both these areas.  Because critically
important chemical issues such as toxicology, treatment effectiveness,
and treatment side effects are being pursued by the Library of Congress
and the Canadian Conservation Institute, the CIC has focussed primarily
on organizational issues related to selection strategies, logistics, and
workflow and staffing issues within the library.

In October 1990, the CIC Libraries (with support from the Council on
Library Resources) embarked on a one year project to explore the
organizational issues raised by mass deacidification.  Sue Nutty, of
Northwestern University, is coordinating that project on a half- time
basis.

A series of test runs is being conducted to simulate and measure
organizational and logistical steps.  The first test run involved
unwanted gift material from Northwestern.  This exercise provided
valuable initial experience in actually going through the primary steps
involved in a mass deacidification program.  The second test run which,
based on the success of the first test, employs material from
Northwestern's permanent library collection, is currently in progress.
This test has been planned to provide a more in-depth look at
organizational implications and will result in some preliminary
estimates of in-house costs.

A third test run will take place over the summer in which most or all of
the CIC Libraries will send a limited quantity of material to mass
deacidification facilities.  Based on the experience gained in the first
two test runs, the third test will result in each participating Library
experiencing first-hand the organizational issues of mass
deacidification, including selection of materials, in-house staffing and
procedural issues, quality control work, and marking or recording
treatment.  Representatives of each Library met at Northwestern on May
23 to discuss the test runs and other issues related to mass
deacidification.

All known mass deacidification vendors were invited to conduct the test
runs.  Akzo and FMC have chosen to participate.  A total of
approximately 1,700 items will be deacidified with the completion of the
three test runs.

Through these activities, the CIC Libraries are positioning themselves
to begin mass deacidification on a small scale as soon as it can be done
responsibly.  Before the end of the year, the CIC Task Force on Mass
Deacidification plans to issue a document reporting on its activities
and making recommendations for the CIC Libraries.  While much of the
document will be specific to the CIC Libraries, it may be useful to
other institutions planning mass deacidification programs and will
therefore be made available outside of the CIC.

The CIC (Committee for Institutional Cooperation) is the academic
consortium of the major midwestern research universities, including the
University of Chicago, the University of Illinois at Chicago, the
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the University of Iowa,
Indiana University, the University of Michigan, Michigan State
University, the University of Minnesota, Northwestern University, Ohio
State University, Pennsylvania State University, Purdue University, and
the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

For further information, contact Sue Nutty (CIC Mass Deacidification
Coordinator) at 708-467-1379, or Richard Frieder (Chair, CIC Task Force
on Mass Deacidification, and Preservation Department Head, Northwestern
University Library) at 708-491-7599 (email:
frieder [at] nuacvm__acns__nwu__edu).

                                  ***
                   Conservation DistList Instance 5:6
                   Distributed: Friday, June 21, 1991
                        Message Id: cdl-5-6-003
                                  ***