Preservation in the MSU Libraries
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The term preservation refers to keeping from harm, damage or danger and indeed that is the mission of the MSU Libraries’ Preservation Unit. In other words, Preservation staff take responsibility for observing the Libraries’ surroundings before a potential danger appears, with the goal of preventing either the danger itself or at the very least mitigating or softening the blow should the worst possible disaster occur. Their work begins long before a disaster occurs, continues while it is happening and doesn't stop until all the issues surrounding the problem are resolved. Theirs is the work of planning, preparing, educating, stockpiling supplies, evaluating damage, implementing salvage operations, and all along the way documenting each step for insurance purposes. All this involves much forethought with a mind for accepting the old adage that what can go wrong will go wrong, so be prepared.
History:
The Preservation Department of the MSU Libraries was established in 1991 with Mary Ann Tyrrell serving as the first Preservation Librarian. Earlier initiatives in preservation activities included the formation of a Disaster Planning Committee in 1987 and the beginnings of a book repair unit which was expanded in 1992.
In addition to the Preservation Office, the newly created department consisted of the Binding Preparation, Book Repair, and Collection Renewal units. Major accomplishments the first few years included participation in a CIC cooperative microfilming project to preserve a large collection of Africana books at MSU that had become brittle and would have been lost otherwise. A properly outfitted book repair lab was added and disaster response equipment and supplies were purchased for the main library and its branches. In 1993, a Preservation Advisory Council was appointed to consult on preservation-related issues. Exploring preservation reformatting methods for replacing the growing number of aging, brittle books in its collections, the department added commercially bound photocopy reproductions as a regular part of preservation program. Digitization is now being added to the options for preserving the older collections in their original formats, and the department is working closely with Special Collections and the Science Library to select and prepare materials to use in initial projects for digitization.
In 1997, the Access and Preservation Division was created as part of a reorganization of the MSU Libraries. The units making up this division were Binding Preparation, Collections Conservation, Collections Renewal, Preservation, and Stacks Maintenance.
In 1999, the Access and Preservation Division was created as part of a reorganization of the MSU Libraries and Jeanne Drewes was appointed head. The units making up this division included Binding Preparation, Collections Conservation, Collection Renewal as well as Preservation and Stacks Maintenance.
Many changes have occurred since 1999. As of 2006, Peter Berg, Head of Special Collections and Associate Director of Libraries is the Acting Preservation Librarian. Units included under Special Collections now include: Preservation, Conservation, Collection Renewal, and Stacks Maintenance.
Modified: 07/14/08