Conservation of Textual and
Visual Records
| Conservation
treatment of textual records such as manuscripts and printed
material, and of visual records such as maps, photographs and works
of art on paper is undertaken in the laboratories of the Gatineau
Preservation Centre. Treatments have two primary purposes: to slow
down or prevent the deterioration of documents resulting from the
use of poor quality materials (e.g., the use of acidic materials in
the manufacture of paper) or from environmental factors (e.g.,
uncontrolled temperature, humidity, light); and to repair damage
already done to documents, thereby permitting their continued
availability for use. |
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| Treatments
performed on documents by professional conservators vary from
minimal interventions, intended to make as many items available for
consultation as possible, to more extensive treatments when an item
is intended to be used for exhibition, publication or other special
use. Activities range from the physical examination of new
acquisitions to detailed treatments on single items.
Conservators
also provide advice and support to many of the other fundamental
activities of Library and Archives Canada in the form of research into
conservation techniques and approaches, advice on methods of
disaster preparedness and recovery, and technical evaluations of
samples and products. |
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