Harold B. Lee Library. Preservation Dept.

Conservation and Repair was renamed the Preservation Department as the program and its objectives solidified. The Preservation Department was still under Collection Development from 1979 to 1985. The Preservation Department contained the Conservation Lab, Book Repair, and Bindery Preparation. In 1985 the Preservation Department was transferred from Collection Development to General Services, but in 1987 the Conservation Unit, which included the Conservation Lab and Book Repair, was transferred from the Preservation Department back to Collection Development in order to be a more closely linked with the Special Collections and Archives and Manuscripts Departments.

Book Repair was transferred administratively back to the Preservation Department before 1990. The Preservation Department was transferred to the Technical Services Division in 1991. It stayed in Technical Services until 1993, when the Preservation Department, re-merged with the Conservation Laboratory, Bindery Preparation, and Book Repair in order to consolidate all the preservation activities in the library. The Preservation Department was responsible to the Archives, Manuscripts, and Special Collections head.

The head Conservators were Craig Jensen (1979-1981) and Robert Espinosa (1982-1984), then the title was changed to Preservation Librarian. The Preservation Librarians were Ellen McCrady (1984-1986), Randy Silverman (1986-1993), Robert Espinosa (1993-1995), and Pamela Barrios (1995-1997).

Variant names

Conservation

Description

Established: 1979

Abolished: 1997

Location: Provo, Utah (1979-1997)

Functions

The Preservation Department was charged with the preservation of all library materials. Book Repair re-bound and re-covered book from all of the library’s stacks. The Conservation Laboratory worked with rare and antique books and manuscripts mostly from Special Collections, Archives, and Manuscripts.

The Preservation Department also helped maintain the integrity of all library materials by raising awareness of how the materials should be treated, by monitoring the library’s temperature and humidity, and by keeping the building cared for.

Assets and Administrative Structure

The head Conservator reported to the director of Collection Development from 1979-1985. The head Conservator’s title was changed to Preservation Librarian, and the Preservation Librarian reported to the head of General Services from 1985-1991, then to the Assistant University Librarian for Technical Services from 1991-1993, and then to Associate University Librarian from 1993-1997. The heads of Collection Development, General Services, the Assistant University Librarian for Technical Services, and the Associate University Librarian all reported directly to the University Librarian.

Associated Units

Superior unit: Harold B. Lee Library (1979-1980)

Superior unit: Harold B. Lee Library. Collection Development Division (1980-1985)

Superior unit: Harold B. Lee Library. General Services Division (1985-1991)

Superior unit: Harold B. Lee Library. Technical Services Division (1991-1993)

Superior unit: Harold B. Lee Library (1993-1997)

Earlier unit: Harold B. Lee Library. Conservation and Repair (1979)

Later unit: Harold B. Lee Library. Conservation Unit (1987)

Later unit: Harold B. Lee Library. Conservation Dept. (1997)

Associated Archival Materials

Harold B. Lee Library Annual Reports (UA 1015)

The Book and Paper Group ANNUAL vol. 11, “The Book Repair Program at Brigham Young University: An Institutional Profile,” Randy Silverman

Sources

HBLL Annual Reports 1979-1980, (Preservation Department established)

HBLL Annual Reports 1984-1988, pgs. 6-30,(Preservation moves to General Services, Conservation Lab and Book Repair move out of Preservation Department, Randy Silverman appointed Preservation Librarian, Preservation contained book repair, bindery prep and Conservation Lab)

HBLL Annual Reports 1992-1993, pg. 3-4, (Conservation Lab and Book Repair merge with Preservation again, Randy Silverman retires and Robert Espinosa is appointment Preservation Librarian)

The Book and Paper Group ANNUAL vol. 11, (Book Repair transferred back to Preservation) http://cool.conservation-us.org/coolaic/sg/bpg/annual/v11/bp11-07.html

Maintenance Information

Record ID: EAC-2012-00026

Creator: UPB