Paper Conservation: Decisions & Compromises

including computer-simulated and decisionmaking
modeling.
Trends
The solutions above are reflected in three emerging
trends that expand preservation capabilities
of LAMs in our digital age, and are the focus of
this paper:
1 Technological science-based research and development
derived from collaborations among
conservators and other experts in library, computer
and materials science to extract evidential
information from primary source material
and to expand the useful life of collections.
2 Preservation and access developments for
at-risk items of high value and use through
cost-effective innovative storage and display
systems, as well as environmental monitoring
and control.
3 Methods to maximize minimum resources
through national and international partnerships,
including ICOM, IFLA, ICCROM, AIC,
Heritage Preservation, and others.
These three trends are discussed more fully below.
1 Technological Research and Development
Collaborations among conservators and other experts
trained in library science, computer science
and materials science expand options for using
and preserving the most seminal, vulnerable,
and at-risk examples of our collective cultural
heritage. These collaborations are increasing the
amount of valuable information extracted from
primary source materials for use by scholars,
utilizing diverse forensic techniques. 5 Such collaborations
not only preserve evidence inherent
to primary source materials, but also extend the
useful life of these materials, through development
of decision-making tools for new treatments
(as exemplified by Library of Congress
work presented on iron gall manuscripts or
other treasures such as Ptolemy atlases).
Other advances in forensic analysis, derived
from CSI-like strategies and innovations, include
hyperspectral imaging (HSI). HSI employs high
resolution and false-color component analysis
to characterize treasured items (such as Waldseemueller’s
1507 Universalis Cosmographia, the
map that “named” America). HSI can document
changes in condition over time caused by natural
aging. HSI can also reveal evidential content,
such as text or unique identifiers, hidden or obscured
by time (as exemplified in examinations
of Jefferson’s Rough Draft of the Declaration of
Independence, 6 Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, or
L’Enfant’s Plan for the City of Washington). 7
Other advances have occurred in environmental
scanning electron microscopy (ESEM), which can
produce elemental “dot maps” using false color
to identify chemical compositions, as well as
reveal activation sites for deterioration in traditional
and audiovisual materials. An ESEM chamber
can simulate environments to mimic adverse
conditions of temperature and relative humidity
to image in real time their effects on collections,
as a form of artificial accelerated aging. ESEM,
along with HSI, can aid in prediction of useful
life by tracking changes induced by simulating
the effect of exposure to adverse environments
of high temperature and relative humidity levels
that lead to polymer chain scission from chemical
breakdowns caused by thermal-oxidation or
acid hydrolysis. 8
The information derived from these and other
techniques can be combined to produce a composite
digital image of a document, in effect a
virtual “digital object” enhanced by “scripto-spatial”
analysis, akin to GIS mapping. This aids authentication
through detection, revelation and
mapping of unique identifiers or other special
features. To house the resultant vast complex of
data, the Library of Congress developed a state-ofthe-art
Center for the Library’s Analytical Scientific
Samples (CLASS). CLASS houses physical collections
(such as TAPPI Fibers, Forbes Pigments,
and many others), and provides a database
framework for accessing scientific information
derived from sample and historic collections. It
is intended to foster international scholarly studies
of the Library’s unique reference sample and
other data to advance science and scholarship. 9
The Library of Congress has invested in other
R&D projects to advance preservation and access,
included in the discussion below.
2 Preservation and Access Developments
Recognition of the importance of environment
on reducing change in, and risk to, primary
source material has spurred investments in R&D
to improve preventive preservation. Integrated
automation systems have streamlined detection
ICOM-CC Graphic Documents Working Group Interim Meeting | Vienna 17 – 19 April 2013
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