Preservation and Conservation: Home

Caring for Personal Collections

• General Preservation FAQs: Library of Congress 

• Preventive Conservation Care: American Institute
  for Conservation  

• Preservation Resources: 
  Northeast Document Conservation Center

Finding a Conservator

• American Institute
  for Conservation

Mission: To Preserve and Protect the Emory Libraries Collections
 

The Preservation Office of the Emory Libraries was established in September 1985 to support preservation activities in all of the Emory Libraries. The Preservation staff acts as a resource for the latest conservation treatments and preservation information. It also maintains the disaster preparedness and response plan for all Emory Libraries. Additionally, the Office monitors environmental conditions and light levels to protect our collections in storage and exhibition areas in all library buildings. The Conservation Lab was established in 1987 and provides care for the physical condition of all Emory University library collections, both rare and circulating.

Staff of the Preservation Office hold active roles in local and regional preservation efforts, such as participating in the Heritage Emergency Response Alliance (HERA), the Southeast Regional Conservation Association (SERCA), and as consultants to our wider community. Nationally, our conservators are involved in the American Institute of Conservation (AIC), American Library Association (ALA), the Guild of Book Workers (GBW), participating as board members, committee chairs, and program planners.

All staff are committed to act as information resources concerning preservation and
conservation issues.

The prime responsibilities of the Conservation Lab are treatment of special collections material and physical care of the general circulating collections for all Emory Libraries.

Conservation Lab staff members provide public education, training, preventative care, and a broad range of conservation services including:

• Environmental monitoring of collections and exhibition areas, including 24/7 temperature and humidity data collection, light level monitoring, and pest management control
• Emergency response, recovery, and salvage of materials damaged through flood, fire, or other disasters
• Staff and student-assistant training in the care and handling of library materials
• Collections condition/conservation needs assessment and preservation
  planning surveys
• Special projects, including preparation of materials for digitization, loan, or exhibition
• Support the Emory Libraries Exhibition Team
• Ongoing book repair for circulating collections, including mending, spine replacement, and rebinding
• Complex conservation treatments, such as encapsulation, deacidification, and protective enclosures for special collections materials

March 31-April 2, 2020 (postponed due to COVID-19; anticipating rescheduled dates)
Book Arts Presentation and Workshop with Brad Freeman
Book Artist and Founding Editor-in-Chief of The Journal of Artists’ Books (JAB)
The presentation on March 31st  is free and open to the public, 4-6pm with reception.
The following 2-day workshop will be April 1-2.
Workshop registration information is available on the SERCA website-https://sercaconservation.org/current-events-workshops/.

Spring 2019
SERCA Annual Meeting: Using Gels and Emulsions in Conservation Treatments
Presentations by numerous keynote speakers and workshop presenters, SERCA, and Conservator Nina Roth-Wells or Maine

Spring 2018
SERCA Annual Meeting: Using Gels and Emulsions in Conservation Treatments

Fall 2018
Leather Conservation Treatments-Jeff Peachey, instructor

PLEASE REFER TO THIS PAGE OFTEN FOR MORE CURRENT
AND UPDATED WORKSHOP INFORMATION

Administration

Lars Meyer
Associate Dean, Access and Resource Services
(404) 727-2437
lmeyer2@emory.edu 

Emory Libraries Conservation

Kim Norman
Director, Preservation and Digitization Services
(404) 727-8244
kim.norman@emory.edu

Kirsten Wehner
Assistant Conservator
(404) 727-9042
kwehner@emory.edu

Julie Newton
Assistant Conservator
(404) 712-3426
jnewt01@emory.edu

Ephranette Brown
Conservation Technician
(404) 712-3931 
ephranette.brown@emory.edu