Paper Conservation: Decisions & Compromises

Paper Conservation: Decisions & Compromises
Lieve Watteeuw
Coordinator ICOM-CC Working Group Graphic Documents, 2011-2014
KU Leuven, Belgium
Introduction
After a very successful 16 th Triennial Meeting in
Lisbon in 2011, our ICOM-CC Working Group of
Graphic Documents continues to develop the
themes of research and conservation practice for
library and archival documents. The aim of the
ICOM-CC Graphic Documents Working Group is
unchanging: to gather and disseminate information
from around the world on the conservation
of all forms of documents, including, but not
limited to, those on paper, parchment and papyrus.
The working program of the graphic document
group 2011-2014 reflects the fast evolution in
the professional field. The program has seven
main targets focusing on research and practice,
at object and at collection level, from diagnosis
to imaging and digitalization. The objectives are
situated in the following areas:
• Multidisciplinary projects dealing with the
treatment of artifacts on paper, parchment
and papyrus (such as manuscripts, printed
books, albums, atlases, prints, drawings, architectural
drawings, cartoons, scrolls, herbaria,
collages, three dimensional objects in papier
maché, etc).
• Imaging as support to the diagnosis and treatment
of conservation issues with paper objects.
• The challenges of digitalization in the archive-,
museum- and library- world (at collection
level).
• The extent to which decision processes in the
conservation of paper-based collections are
influenced by changing views of the ethics of
conservation.
• The mix of Western and Eastern traditions in
paper conservation.
• Models for surveys and risk assessment of
graphic documents collections.
• Growing competences in the field of paper-,
library-, archive- and print- conservation.
The Interim Meeting of the Working Group
Graphic Documents in Vienna (17 - 19 April 2013)
on the theme Paper Conservation: Decisions &
Compromise, provides a forum for the broad
spectrum of activities our professional community
is developing. Ever increasing competences are
demanded of paper-, library-, archive- and print
conservators by, on the one hand, the challenges
of digitalization in the archive-, museum- and
library- world, the global impact of changing cultural
policies and economic constraints and, on
the other hand, new research, new materials and
new techniques. We realize that decision processes
in conservation are influenced by changes
in ethics, politics and science. In the light of this,
conservators need to shape their professional
profiles to these processes and to play their part
as valuable partners in negotiations over the future
of documentary heritage.
The publication of the extended abstracts of
the 43 contributions to this Vienna Interim Meeting
presents a fascinating overview of the current
state of research, practice and progress in
the field of paper, book and document conservation
and preservation. We thank the Vienna organization
team, coordinated by Christa Hofmann
and the authors for sharing their skills, experience
and knowledge.
ICOM-CC Graphic Documents Working Group Interim Meeting | Vienna 17 – 19 April 2013
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