Effective and holistic collections care is crucial to ensuring the long-term availability of Dartmouth’s scholarly resources. Our work ensures the preservation and maintenance of our materials, including books, journals, manuscripts, audiovisual materials, three-dimensional objects, and digital collections.
Collections Care Program at Dartmouth Libraries
Preservation
Our preservation team conducts condition assessments and surveys of library collections while offering essential training on the proper care, handling, and storage of various materials. We advise on best practices across formats to minimize wear and tear on our collections, ensuring that appropriate storage methods are in place for all material types. Additionally, we coordinate commercial binding efforts and prepare newly acquired materials for circulation, all aimed at preserving the integrity of our valuable resources for the Dartmouth community.
Conservation
Our commitment to conservation ensures that you’ll find well-maintained library materials when using our collections. We repair damaged items in our general collections and perform conservation treatments on non-circulating collections and Rauner Special Collections material, according to the American Institute of Conservation standards. We prepare materials for digitization, making valuable resources accessible to you and future generations. We also provide mentorship and Internship placement for early career individuals who are pursuing a profession in conservation.
Stacks Maintenance
We organize and maintain the library’s shelf arrangement based on the Library of Congress and Dewey Decimal classification systems to help you easily locate materials. Our team shifts bound volumes as our collection grows, and we ensure that stacks are clean and welcoming. We also monitor for pest issues to protect the materials you rely on.
Environmental Monitoring
We monitor the temperature and humidity in all our collection spaces to ensure a stable environment that prevents material degradation. Collections are kept between 60-68°F and humidity levels at 30%-50%. We also provide guidance on minimizing light exposure for rare and fragile special collections.
Disaster Preparedness & Emergency Response
Our comprehensive disaster plan is designed to protect our collections from potential risks, including floods, fires, and mold. With trained colleagues and the Collections Action Response Team in place, we are prepared to handle emergencies effectively, ensuring consistent access to our collections.
Digital Preservation
Collections Management and Preservation supports cross-departmental digital preservation efforts and is responsible for policy drafting, implementation, and upkeep.
Contact Us
Instagram: @dartmouthpreservation
- Email: elena.m.cordova@dartmouth.edu
- Phone: 603-646-2458