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Mass Deacidification - Making it a reality?
A Feasibility study to investigate and make recommendations for a
collaborative
approach to mass deacidification as part of the national preservation strategy
for the cultural written heritage
Archives and libraries have long been aware of the magnitude of the problem of
acidic paper, sometimes referred to as "brittle paper". This phenomenon is the
result of economic decisions, which caused a reduction in the standards of
manufacture of paper from about 1850.
Over the past thirty years, various attempts have been made by commercial
organisations, and also via research commissioned by major libraries all over
the world, to combat this problem. It is now clear that if this threat remains
unchecked, it has the potential to lead to a massive loss, not only of
information, but also of heritage material.
During the 1990's however, several mass deacidification systems have been
developed which offer strong potential, and this has renewed interest in
Europe
and North America.
Following a meeting held at the Public Record Office in November 1999,
attended
by representatives from a wide variety of archives and libraries throughout
the
UK and Ireland, a Steering Group was formed. A successful bid has been made to
the British Library Co-operation and Partnership Programme who awarded a grant
for the study. The project will complete by March 2001.
Aims and Objectives:
The primary aim of this study is to map out a collaborative approach to
solving
the problems created by acidic paper.
The project aims to develop:
· criteria for the establishment of a commercial plant that would suit all the
partners
· the best way of achieving a cost effective, collaborative use of such a
plant
by archives and libraries throughout the UK and Ireland
The main objectives would therefore be to:
· enable the parties involved to define their requirements from a commercial
organisation and so begin the process of ensuring sustainable access to the
nineteenth and twentieth century cultural written heritage
· identify potential funding sources for a national programme to commence and
sustain this process
Anyone interested in contributing to this project please contact:
Jonathan Rhys-Lewis:
Project Consultant : 01206 515498 : [log in to unmask]
Questionnaire and further project details : National Library of Wales
website:
www.llgc.org.uk
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European Commission on Preservation and Access (ECPA)
P.O. Box 19121, NL-1000 GC Amsterdam,
visiting address: Trippenhuis, Kloveniersburgwal 29, NL-1011 JV Amsterdam,
The Netherlands
tel. +31 - 20 - 551 0839 fax +31 - 20 - 620 4941
URL: http://www.knaw.nl/ecpa/
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