Conservation of Research Library Collections at the American Museum of Natural History

Abstract

The research Library of the American Museum of Natural History has been actively concerned with the conservation of its collections for more than a decade. In addition to the 400,000 volume monograph and serial collection, the Library is striving to preserve its rare book, photographic, archive, manuscript, film and art and relia collections. Since 1973, significant grant funding, the institution of conservation policies and prioritizing the apportionment of budget funds have enabled the Library to make important conservation strides in both its general and special collections. A wide disparity in the condition of different materials exists because of the age and breadth of the Library collections, and up to 30% of the general collection can be considered unique or rare. About five years ago, a conservation self-survey was conducted by the Library staff of all the collections, and recent conservation policy-making decisions and goals have been based on that survey.