Pam Hackbart-Dean and Elizabeth Slomba.How to Manage Processing in Archives and Special Collections. Chicago: Society of American Archivists, 2012, 160p. alk. paper, $69.95 (ISBN 1-931666-43-1). LC2012-024050
Authors: Keith Gorman
Year: 2013

Eric Almstrom is head of conservation for the Michigan State University Libraries and Jennifer Teper holds a similar position at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She has written or coauthored a number of peer-reviewed articles in the field of preservation and conservation of library and archival materials. Eleven other authors—one in private practice and the rest associated with the preservation and conservation facilities of major institutions in the United States— contributed practical essays that address varied aspects of project planning, specifications for equipment and specialized functions, and considerations unique to private conservation labs and those that focus on flat paper collections. Chapters related to planning provide helpful information on how to plan and carry projects to conclusion. Donia Conn’s essay on project management includes lists of details, components, and specifications to consider before embarking on the design of a lab. These include the proximity of a freight elevator, plumbing, lighting, the size and location of windows and doors, specialized spaces, security systems, appropriate work surfaces, ergonomic design, and OSHA regulations. Some of these might seem self-evident, but failure to think about them could prove to be problematic. Eric Alstrom’s chapter on design and layout not only describes such key components as furniture and equipment, but also includes “functional footprints” of lab equipment. Three case studies (Ohio University, Dartmouth College, and Michigan State University) contain descriptions and floor plans of the labs at those institutions. Many of these topics are addressed in more depth in subsequent chapters. Whitney Baker provides considerations related to labs for special collections, general collections, and hybrid ones. This chapter, too, contains useful case studies and floor plans. Additional chapters describe processes and equipment for water purification, types and configuration of lighting, ventilation and exhaust systems, custom-built furniture and equipment, ergonomic considerations, and quarantine and segregation rooms. Jeffrey Peachey, a conservator in private practice, addresses concepts pertinent to private book conservation labs, and Claire Hoevel provides guidance on the development of labs for paper conservation. Most of these chapters contain helpful notes and bibliographies. Also included in the book are seven appendices, including four by Jennifer Teper. These provide additional information on lighting and ventilation, procedures for dealing with mold and pests, guidelines for crafting a program statement and equipment schedule, and tips for reading architectural plans. Teper’s “Quick Reference for Recommended Equipment Specifications” and glossary of terms round out the book. Planning and Constructing Book & Paper Conservation Laboratories: A Guidebook admirably fulfills its intended purpose. A careful reading of it prior to embarking on a project to build or remodel a conservation facility will enable users to plan wisely and avoid costly and frustrating mistakes.—Maurice C. York, East Carolina University.