[PADG:1554] Preservation facilities at regional library center

["Normandy Helmer" <nhelmer@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Our regional library consortium is considering construction of a nifty
high-density storage facility and the preservation committee is putting
together a menu of preservation "opportunities" that could also be housed at
the facility. Examples include:

-intake center to clean materials prior to storage
-conservation lab(s) with potential to support interns
-hands-on training facility/conference center
-disaster response cache
-reformatting center, preferably including nonbook formats (but not
duplicating OCLC's new operation in Lacey)
-decontamination & processing center for gift collections
-mass deacidification unit
-freezer
-materials preparation & binding center
-field services office

Here in the Pacific Northwest there are very few preservation service
providers, so this is a great opportunity for us to create local services.
To cost out each of these modules for general planning/fundraising purposes,
we will need to roughly spec square footage, equipment/infrastructure
requirements, and staffing levels. I would very much appreciate hearing from
anyone who is currently operating any of these modules, whether within a
single institution or at multi-institution center or storage facility, as
well as entities that might be interested in providing contract services at
the facility.

Useful information:
-what services are offered through the module?
-how many square feet are in use?
-how many professional FTE? How many paraprofessional FTE?
-how many units handled annually?
-how many institutions use the facility?
-what kind of equipment and/or infrastructure is required?
-is the module self-supporting? what's the annual budget?
-are services provided by a subcontractor?
-what would you do differently?

Thanks very much for any assistance you can provide.

Normandy Helmer
Coordinator of Preservation & Digital Services/
Oregon Newspaper Project
541-346-1864/fax 541-346-1882
nhelmer@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

UO Libraries--Spec. Coll.
1299 University of Oregon
Eugene, OR 97403-1299