Дослідження стану збереження фотодокументів з фондів Львівської національної наукової бібліотеки України імені В. Стефаника

Abstract

Collections of photographic documents constitute considerable information, document and art heritage. Photographs with non-existing today art and architectural objects are of particular importance. The task for their keepers is to save all visual information and to ensure accessibility to users. The paper’s purpose is to study the state of photographic documents kept in Vasyl Stefanyk National Scientific Library of Ukraine in Lviv. The article provides a profound analyze of damages’ types as well as factors that caused them and measures for their preservation. Authors highlighted the role of indoor climate’s stability for the safety of photographic documents. Photographs are multi-component objects and 208 consist of several layers, each carrying out certain functions. Photographic documents are of low light resistance, so their improper storage may cause irreversible fading. Damages may be caused by both physical, chemical and biological factors. Actually, their monitoring allows to record any injuries and to identify destructive processes that just begin. On the base of photographs dated back to 1860s – 1930s from museum collections of Shevchenko Scientific Society, Ossolinski National Institute and People’s House in Lviv, the state of paper base and clarity of images were assessed. The results of the study were registered in tables, where the state of their conservation was specified in details. Authors applied five-level system to assess injuries of photographic documents. The paper describes three kinds of damages, including mechanical injuries (loss, deformation, breakings), physical and chemical (fading, color changes, spots), biological (pigmentation, contamination by microorganism, insects etc.). The study and investigation made it possible to refine conservation measures, to develop means for minimizing the influence of harmful factors. Researchers’ growing interest to photographic documents increased their usage in the Library. Supporting safety conditions and accessibility to conducting researches allow to use photographic documents widely for history and art studies, cataloging and exhibitions. Keywords: photographical documents, photo collections, Shevchenko Scientific Society, People’s House, Petrushevych Museum, preservation, conservation.