Preservation surveys

The Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts (CCAHA)
encourages Mid-Atlantic institutions with paper-based collections to
apply for Preservation Overview Surveys, generously subsidized by a
grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.  CCAHA
continues to offer, for the next two years (1996-1997), subsidized
preservation overview surveys for non-profit organizations,
including libraries, archives, museums, educational institutions,
and historical organizations, that have paper-based collections of
long-term value to the study and understanding of the humanities.

Program Highlights

The purpose of a preservation overview survey is to assess an
institution's current care of its paper-based collections and to
provide strategies for addressing immediate needs and developing
extended strategies for the collections' long-term preservation.

    *   The Conservation Center is conducting a limited number of
        preservation overview surveys in 1996 and 1997.

    *   There is a fee of $300.00 for a survey, plus travel expenses
        for the surveyor.

    *   Applications are reviewed in order of receipt.  The
        selection process continues throughout each year.

A survey consists of a one-day site visit by a member of the
Center's staff and submission of an extensive report.  An overview
survey encompasses a general review of an institution's preservation
needs with regards to environment (temperature, relative humidity,
pollution, and light), housekeeping, pest control, fire protection,
security, disaster preparedness, storage, handling, exhibition,
treatment, and preservation planning.  To identify the preservation
needs of the institution, the visit consists of a review of the
site, an examination of the collection, and interviews with relevant
staff, including those responsible for collection care, the physical
plant and building maintenance, and security.  A report that
provides observations and recommendations to serve as a guide in the
development of a comprehensive preservation plan for the paper-based
collections is submitted to the participating institution.

Criteria for Participation

To be considered for participation in the Conservation Center's
Subsidized Survey Program, your institution must have a humanities
collection available to the public.  Preference is given to
institutions that conform to the following criteria:

    *   Institutions with collections that are either unique or of
        significant value to the study and understanding of the
        humanities

    *   Institutions that can make a commitment to developing and
        implementing a long-range preservation plan and that have an
        individual staff member or volunteer willing to assume
        responsibility for preservation activities

    *   Institutions in the Mid-Atlantic region

Application Process

To apply for participation in the Subsidized Survey Program, please
contact the Conservation Center for an application form.  Send three
(3) copies of the completed application form to the Conservation
Center.  Please include one copy of the following with your
application: proof of tax exempt status; most recent annual
financial statement; staff list; list of board members; written
policy statements; and other relevant information such as brochures,
survey summaries, etc.  In the application narrative section you
will be asked to discuss briefly:

    *   educational and research significance or uniqueness of the
        collection

    *   previous collection care practices

    *   major preservation problems and concerns for the collection

    *   reasons that a preservation overview survey is appropriate
        at this time

To request an application form or additional information, please
contact:

Ann Craddock, Preservation Services Representative
Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts
264 South 23rd Street
Philadelphia, PA  19103
215-545-0613
Fax: 215-735-9313

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 9:50
                Distributed: Saturday, December 23, 1995
                        Message Id: cdl-9-50-011
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