tutorials on preservation and conservation. Funded by The Henry Luce Foundation,
the tutorial is targeted toward libraries and archives in Southeast Asia.
subject: preservation
conservation
tutorials
Southeast Asia
CLIR
The Henry Luce Foundation
CLIR Press Release
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: October 18, 2002
Contacts:
Alice Bishop
Council on Library and Information Resources
Phone: 202.939.4750, E-mail: abishop@clir.org
John F. Dean
Dept. of Preservation and Collection Maintenance
Cornell University Library
Phone: 607.255.9687, E-mail: jfd5@cornell.edu
Council on Library and Information Resources and Cornell Launch Web-Based Preservation Tutorial
Washington, D.C.The Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR)
and Cornell University Library have launched the first in a series of Web-based
tutorials on preservation and conservation. Funded by The Henry Luce Foundation,
the tutorial is targeted toward libraries and archives in Southeast Asia.
“Preservation is vital to the intellectual heritage of every culture,” said
Deanna Marcum, president of the Council on Library and Information Resources.
“This tutorial provides basic and reliable preservation information, and allows users
to develop strategies and responses to preservation challenges that are distinctive to
the Southeast Asian culture and climate.”
“It is hoped that the tutorial will help librarians and others
care for their collections in a way that will greatly extend their useful life,” said John Dean, director of
the Department of Preservation and Collection Maintenance at Cornell
University Library. “Every attempt has been made to address the issues in a practical and
easily understood manner, with extended references to other works likely to be
available and of value.”
The tutorial includes a self-assessment tool that helps users evaluate their level of preservation,
an instructional narrative, a resource guide containing information on local suppliers of
conservation materials and equipment, and a technical glossary with terms in the vernacular. The narrative has
four major sections.
- Management and Planning
- Preservation
- Building Capacity
- Supporting the Effort
Each of the narrative sections contains information of particular relevance to librarians
and preservationists in tropical climates. For example, there is discussion of passive climate control to
avoid the need for air-conditioning. Another section deals with integrated pest management to
replace chemical pesticides.
The tutorial will be adapted for use in other regions of the world.
The tutorial is found at
http://www.librarypreservation.org.
The Council on Library and Information Resources is an independent, nonprofit organization
that works to expand access to information, however recorded and preserved, as a public good.
In partnership with other organizations, CLIR helps create services that expand the concept of
“library” and supports the providers and preservers of information. Through projects, programs,
and publications, CLIR works to maintain and improve access to information for generations to come.
For more information, visit www.clir.org.
The Department of Preservation and Collection Maintenance is part of the Instruction, Research,
and Information Services (IRIS) division of the Cornell University Library, and was established in 1985.
The Department’s role within the Library is to extend the usable life of the collections, working with a
staff of 45, including four conservators and three librarians. The Department has been active in
Southeast Asia for the last 15 years, conducting a number of overseas projects in 10 countries. The
Department’s Web site is
www.library.cornell/preservation/program.
