Led by a team of conservators and preservation librarians, five Harvard libraries are participating in a national field study conducted by the Image Permanence Institute. The goal of this important investigation is to test sophisticated new environmental assessment software, together with digital instruments for gathering temperature and humidity data. Used in combination they will provide invaluable information for the managers of library climate control systems throughout the University. Disaster preparedness A group of 14 preservation librarians and conservators staff the Library Collections Emergency Team, which is on call 24 hours a day. In addition to responding to emergencies, the team sponsors educational programs on disaster preparedness and response for Harvard staff.
Team leaders teach collections recovery skills in hands-on training sessions held periodically.
Disaster recovery supplies have been procured for the libraries and distributed to strategic locations. The installation of modern sprinkler systems is complete, underway, or planned in many libraries throughout the University. Harvard College Library administrators and members of the Weissman Preservation Center staff are participating in a groundbreaking risk and recovery assessment. The study focuses on one library and will serve as a model for other parts of the University's core infrastructure. Topics have ranged from the conservation of medieval pigments and bookbindings, leather manufacture for conservation binding, and the use of the microscope in conservation analysis, to identification of photographic media, disaster preparedness and recovery, environmental monitoring, and library security.