Preservation in the Libraries
As part of the University of Arkansas Libraries, the Preservation Unit oversees the protection and treatment of the Libraries’ physical collections in order to facilitate long-term preservation and access for all users.
In other words, we’re involved in…
- preservation planning
- conservation
- proper care and handling of collections materials
- environmental monitoring
- integrated pest management disaster
- response and recovery
- commercial binding
- collection security
A preservation program is designed to maintain collections as a whole in the best possible condition, for as long as they are needed, by minimizing and preventing damage. Preservation encompasses policies, principles, and practices for preventive strategies, and conservation encompasses the treatment and repair of individual items to slow decay or restore to a usable form.
Preventive collection care is the most cost effective and efficient means of extending useful life of a collection. Remedial actions, such as binding, repair, conservation treatment, and reformatting, are performed to ensure continued access to collections.
Preservation and conservation encompass a range of activities associated with maintaining materials for use in original physical form or in other usable ways appropriate for the institution and collection. We manage physical preservation only; the Digital Services Department and Special Collections manage digital preservation for their individual holdings.
About the Lab
Preservation at LINX
Our lab space is temporarily located at LINX, the library annex and access facility. We will return to Mullins Library in June 2024 when the Phase II renovations are complete.
Here we handle collections and items ranging from the basic to more complicated needs: paper repair, humidification and flattening, large scale surface cleaning, handling oversized or fragile materials, etc. This space is fitted with a fume hood, fire safe, and freezer to assist with contaminated or hazardous materials. The adjoining Quarantine room is used in conjunction with the Preservation Lab.
Access to these two rooms is limited to library staff only to ensure the safety of materials both entering and leaving the spaces.
About the Staff
Mary Leverance
Preservation and Conservation Coordinator
Mary is focused on managing the unit, and preventive conservation and collections care, including environmental monitoring, emergency response, integrated pest management, reviewing materials needing treatment, and preservation planning.
She’s often working with data, discussing preservation measures with staff from all Libraries units, and dabbling in making enclosures here and there.
She has a Master’s in Library and Information Science and a B.S. in Geography.
Email: mleveran at uark.edu
Sally Crutcher
Preservation and Binding Supervisor
Sally is focused on the physical conservation of library materials, including assessing damaged items, repairing books and paper, and rehousing items in premade and custom enclosures. She also oversees the Libraries’ binding operations.
You can usually find Sally listening to podcasts while making wheat starch paste, cleaning and mending paper, and repairing the spines of books.
She has a Master’s in Library and Information Science, a B.A. in History, and a graduate certificate in Archival Studies.
Email: crutcher at uark.edu
Amber Cooper
Preservation and Binding Assistant
Amber is focused on minor repairs on books, but also sending out periodicals for commercial binding. She also assists in more intensive book repairs, any other tasks needing extra help, and professional development through webinars and reading about book conservation.
For training purposes, she also has a long-term book repair project, where she’s reassembling a book from scratch, including fixing any tears and binding issues the book has, which is usually the highlight of her week. Her role is filled with learning new information and gathering experience she’ll bring to furthering her education in graduate school.
She has a B.S. in Anthropology, with a History minor.
Email: arc026 at uark.edu