Category Archives: Uncategorized

Challenge of a Millennia: How to Store an Oversized Clay Tablet?

The University of Cincinnati’s Archives and Rare Books Library owns a few cuneiform tablets that date around the 1st century BCE.  Most are small enough to fit within the palm of your hand.  However, the clay tablet in question measures 14 inches (W) by 14 inches (T) x 4.5 inches (D) and weighs roughly 40-50 lbs.

Assyrian cornerstone during surface cleaning

More accurately, it is thought to be an Assyrian cornerstone that dates between 860 and 824 BCE.  It is described in the catalog record to be from the ruins of Calah (near Ninevah) on the Tigris River.  It is likely the cornerstone of a temple or palace erected by Salmanser III, king of Assyria. The provenance of how the University acquired the tablet is uncertain.

A translation of the cuneiform writing reads, ““Salmaneser, the great king, the mighty king, king of the universe, king of Assyria, son of Asurnaserpal, the great king, the mighty king, the king of Assyria, son of Tukulbi-Ninib, king of the universe, king of Assyria, and indeed builder of the temple-tower of the city of Calah.”

  • Front, Raking Illumination with Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI) by Jessica Ebert
  • Front, Normal Illumination by Jessica Ebert
  • Back, Raking Illumination by Jessica Ebert
  • Back, Normal Illumination by Jessica Ebert

After surface cleaning and digitizing the cornerstone, finding suitable storage for an Assyrian cornerstone tablet seemed like a straightforward task in the beginning.  I thought, “Let’s get it off the floor, house it, and protect it from dust!”  No problem, right?

But once we got the item back in the lab, the weight of the object combined with its fragility proved more of a challenge after Chris, Holly and I began thinking about how the object would be retrieved from storage and how it would be handled.  Rather than being stored in specialty shelving (such as items might be in a museum), this item was a library item.  We needed to fit the tablet amongst archival book shelving.  We were also faced with the prospect of transporting the cornerstone up and down a flight of stairs from the secure rare book storage. There is no easy elevator access!  And finally, once it was put in an enclosure, how would a librarian get it out to show researchers and students?

We decided on an industrial case with wheels that could be transported and stored anywhere. I knew I wanted a device with handles to pull the object in and out of the case, but immediately decided against the idea of ratchet straps. The threat of fracturing would be too great if the ratchet straps were over-tightened.

After careful thought (and the creation of mock up solutions!) the following custom design was created in five stages:

1. A waterproof, shock-proof rolling Nanuk 950 case (similar to a Pelican case) was purchased.  

Nanuk case open
Nanuk case closed
Labeled Nanuk case

2. The interior was customized with foam and supports.

Tyvek covered base
Bottom foam cutouts
Upper foam cutouts

3. The lid was fashioned with a Tyvek pillow screwed to the top with an interior Coroplast sheet.

Marking screw holes
Coroplast screwed to lid inside pillowcase
Sealing pillow filled with polyester

4. The cornerstone was wrapped around all sides in a foam sheet with four flaps.

Foam flaps secured with Velcro
Unfolded flas

5. A cloth wrapper with custom handles was sewn to support the tablet during insertion into and retrieval from the case.

Sewing cloth wrapper
During creation of handles
Completed wrapper

In addition, life-size surrogate photographs were printed by Jessica Ebert and stored in a polyester sleeve within the case.  These images may prove even more useful during exhibition or teaching than seeing the actual tablet as they were captured with raking light that beautifully highlights the cuneiform writing.  They could even be used as an alternative to handling the heavy tablet.

To help guide future librarians on how to handle the cuneiform tablet in the future, handling instructions were provided, a handling video was created, and a QR code of the video was pasted onto the case. Check out the video below.

I was appreciative to have been able to hearken back to my object’s conservation experience working at the Musical Instrument Museum. My prior experience helped guide me to dust the tablet and store surface cleaning samples, however, this was a project that took me out of my library conservation comfort zone.  The knowledge required to house such an object (and the amount of textile sewing used to create the cloth wrapper!) gave me even more appreciation for the work objects and textile conservators do to preserve our oversized and heavy materials – especially when transporting and taking them on and off display!

Ashleigh Ferguson Schieszer [CHPL] – Rare book and paper conservator

Video by Jessica Ebert

Job Posting: Conservation Specialist

The Preservation Lab, a partnership to preserve and conserve the collections of the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library and the University of Cincinnati Libraries, seeks applicants for a Conservation Specialist position.

The Conservation Specialist is a technician level position with on-the-job training that may appeal to emerging conservation professionals. This position will join a collaborative team of 7 full-time staff members, including conservators, a preservation librarian, technicians, student workers and volunteers to preserve collections from both institutions. The Preservation Lab staff consists of both Cincinnati Public Library and the University Library members. This position is a Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library position but is stationed at the University of Cincinnati West campus.

The Public Library’s Main downtown branch will complete renovations to include a Story Center, with estimated completion fall of 2023. The Story Center will work closely with the special collections Genealogy department at the Public Library, Digital Services, and the Preservation Lab to collect, curate and preserve the experiences, histories and stories of communities, with a focus on communities of color and historically marginalized groups. Collaboration with members of Genealogy, Digital Services, and Story Center staff are an essential component of this position.  The successful candidate will also demonstrate an interest in working directly with the public.

Founded in 1853, the Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library today is one of the busiest and most highly acclaimed library systems in the United States, providing service to over 800,000 residents through a network of 40 branch libraries, a major downtown Main Library, and a Distribution Center.  CHPL holds one of the largest genealogical collections in the United States and many other specialized collections, most of which are housed in the Main library.

Pay rate begins at $17.85/hour.  The pay range is $37,128 – $51,979. The position will remain open until filled.

For more information about job duties and how to apply, please visit: https://recruitingbypaycor.com/career/JobIntroduction.action?clientId=8a78826755712ad4015573d869f00055&id=8a78859e84c012b10184e2b7555128d5&specialization=8a78826755712ad4015573da172e0079&lang=en

Ashleigh Ferguson Schieszer [CHPL] – Rare book and paper conservator

Fun with PhotoDoc: New Copy Stand Setup (Edition 14) 

Out with the old and in with the new!

image of the Lab's old copy stand
Our old copy stand setup
image of our new and improved, wall-mounted copy stand setup
Our new and improved, wall-mounted copy stand

Over the Spring, I began researching relatively affordable copy stand setup options with the goal of improving our outdated and slightly MacGyver’d existing setup while also increasing the size of objects that could be photographed with the new setup. Here’s a list of the equipment we ended up purchasing:

Once all of the column components arrived I set out to determine the maximum size object I could image with our current DSLR and our most used lens, in order to determine what size table I should get. Now, since I am not a math wizard, I did this the only way that made sense to my brain…I set the assembled column on against the wall, on the floor, with our camera mounted and used blue tape on the wall to create a grid of minimum and maximum size objects at various focal lengths…

image of a dslr camera screen and blue tape on a wall
image of a dslr camera screen and blue tape on a wall
Image of the column resting on the floor with the camera mounted and blue tape on the wall

This gave me pretty good idea of the general size I needed for a table. But I also wanted the table to have locking casters, sit at 27″ high (max), and have a shelf underneath for storage. Sadly, finding a table online that matched the size and other criteria was nearly impossible. Luckily for us, the UC Carpenters are the best and can make nearly anything you throw at them! And voila, after a couple months the UC Carpenters (a huge thanks to Tom!) had constructed a custom table and mounted the new copy stand column!

Today marked my first day using the new setup. I kicked things off by imaging a silk fabric piece from the Engineering library that would not fit on our old copy stand. Before our new setup, this would have meant shooting the delicate silk piece on the floor, using an inverted tripod. It’s a setup that I have used many times for oversized objects, and one that I strongly dislike for conservation photography, as it magnifies potential errors in handling. But luckily, I shouldn’t have to resort to the inverted tripod on the floor setup anytime soon!

image of Jessica adjusting the silk fabric piece on the copy stand
image of Jessica doing raking illumination of the silk fabric piece

Jessica Ebert [UCL] – Sr. Conservation & Photographic Documentation Specialist

Job Announcement (and an opportunity to work with The Preservation Lab!)

Image of a shelf of rare books from the Archives and Rare Books Library

University Archivist and Head, Archives & Rare Books Library

University of Cincinnati Libraries

Full-time, faculty tenure-track

Salary Range $85-110K, salary plus stipend

University of Cincinnati Libraries is inviting applications for the University Archivist and Head, Archives & Rare Books Library.  The successful candidate will be responsible for the development and management of services and collections of the Archives and Rare Books Library, which includes rare books, manuscripts, the University Archives, and other archival and special collections. Additionally, as University Archivist, the position is responsible for promoting use and engagement with collections documenting the history of the University of Cincinnati and provides leadership oversight of University Records Management Program.  

This position is covered by AAUP UC’s collective bargaining agreement. UC faculty librarians have access to annual funding to support conference attendance and professional development needs.

This position operates under the principles of the UC Libraries Strategic Framework: NEXT Directions, which aims to increase our impact by: creating paths to education innovation and student success; contributing to the university’s research, learning and teaching agendas; and by creating partnerships within UC, the wider Cincinnati urban community and at national and international levels.

This work requires a substantial investment in people, a renewed commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and a continued focus on and acceleration of digital transformations as the Libraries continue to fulfill its mission and achieve the vision to become the globally engaged, intellectual commons of the university—positioning itself as the hub of collaboration, digital innovation and scholarly endeavor on campus.

The full position description and application are available on the university’s website.  

Print Council of America Paper Sample Book

Cleaning out old historic papers from the lab closet inspired me to investigate finding a reference material that I enjoyed using at other institutions: the Print Council of America Paper Sample Book. A Practical Guide to the Description of Paper, by Roy Perkinson and Elizabeth Lunning, Boston 1996. 

Print Council of America’s Paper Sample Book

While there are many fine art applications, this book is used in the field of paper conservation when describing papers in an examination report.  The reason for this is to establish a visual standard since descriptors can be quite subjective. Cream, beige and light brown to one person could be perceived as opposites to another.  However, using this booklet, a large range of colors, textures and thicknesses are definitive and straightforward to select when comparing the samples to the object in person. 

I first gained experience using the reference in graduate school and thought it could be a valuable resource for the Preservation Lab, especially for staff and students learning to examine objects for the first time. However, I was under the impression it was out of print because the booklet was created by the Print Council of America a few decades ago and contains a limited number of hand cut paper samples.  With the lab’s newly found historic paper samples in mind, I emailed the Print Council Of America to seek permission to create a facsimile. Lo and behold, I was thrilled to learn the books were still for sale and no boot-legging necessary!

Ours arrived just this week and I’m excited to share the tri-fold booklet below! Paper colors are defined on the left, thicknesses outlined in the center, and textures displayed on the right.

How to use:

When describing a paper object (or text block) in the description section of the treatment report, I will now reference this booklet to describe the color, texture and thickness using this terminology.  Colors include: Light blue, blued white (which looks gray to me!), bright white, white, cream (1), cream (2), cream (3), beige (2), and brown.  There are seven types of thickness and nine types of textures to select for comparison ranging from very smooth to rough (3). The accompanying pamphlet has great information to further define the terms, including a measurement chart for the paper thickness (should you prefer using a micrometer), and provenance of all the sample papers.

Let’s use the booklet to describe a handwritten note by Abraham Lincoln from 1864, owned by the Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library:

During treatment, the note is removed from the matting system

Before having my hands on the booklet, I would have described the object as follows: The manuscript is handwritten with brown iron gall ink on a light beige handmade laid paper. Comparing the object to the Print Council of America sample book, the manuscript could be better described as:

…a manuscript handwritten in brown iron gall ink on a cream (1)…

…a manuscript handwritten in brown iron gall ink on a cream (1), medium (2) thick…

… a manuscript handwritten in brown iron gall ink on a cream (1), medium (2) thick, smooth, handmade laid paper.

Much improved from my initial description that indicated the color was light beige!

When using this booklet as a reference for reports or surveys, at the bottom of the report, I’ll begin adding a footnote that says, “[1] All paper descriptions by comparison with Print Council of America’s Paper Sample Book (Roy Perkinson and Elizabeth Lunning, 1996).  This will allow other conservators and practitioners familiar with the book to have a point of reference when reading my report, even on the other side of the country!  In the future, this can also help in identifying shifts in paper tone caused by aging paper.  

Ashleigh Ferguson Schieszer – Lab Co-Manager, Rare Book and Paper Conservator

Chain of custody

The phrase “chain of custody” doesn’t illicit much excitement generally speaking, but it’s one part of the workflow in the Preservation Lab that leads to the exciting part — materials return days!

We count on paper forms (pictured below), our homegrown treatment database, and our partner’s catalogs to make sure that at all times our partners know where their treasures are in the conservation workflow.

Pink forms that record conservation time. Pink forms are for UC Library materials.
Office area with book carts full of return items.

(Left) Paper treatment forms where we record our conservation time. (Right) My office area with materials preparing to “go home” after chain of custody work completed.

The materials above are ready for return. This happens at regularly scheduled meetings where the materials are delivered back by the lab and the treatments are discussed with the subject selectors. At the return meetings we also do our new intake… and the process begins again!

Holly Prochaska (UCL) —- Preservation Librarian

Sneak Peek into Preservation

After a two year hiatus, the Preservation Lab once again was able to celebrate the American Library Association’s Preservation Week.  And this year, the lab decided to take Preservation Week to the public. 

On the morning of April 21st, Catarina and Jessica took one of the lab’s rolling work tables to the entrance of the Langsam library. There they set up a demonstration area with some very dirty books, to show the public a little bit about surface cleaning. They brought out the different supplies used in surface cleaning (such as hydrophilic sponges, smoke sponges, eraser crumbles and vinyl erasers). In addition to surface cleaning materials, Jessica and Catarina also brought some Japanese tissue for the public to touch and learn about tear repair.

Jessica uses a sponge to clean soot off a book.
Jessica is actively surface cleaning a very grimy book.
Catarina uses a sponge to clean soot off a book.
Catarina is surface cleaning a dirty book using a hydrophilic sponge.
Close up of Catarina using a sponge to clean soot off a book. To the right is also supplies required for repairing paper tears in books such as paste jars, brushes, tweezers, and water dishes.
Another view of the entire set up with a tear repair station.

A few members of the public were too nervous to even try to surface clean a little bit of the dirty books (all filled with soot from coal burning stoves), but others were brave enough and felt that surface cleaning was a very satisfying and relaxing treatment.

Student using a sponge to clean front of book. Sponge moving from center of page towards edge.
Jessica encouraging a UC student to try to surface clean.
Catarina showing patron the broken inner hinge of a book.
Catarina explaining why surface cleaning was the first step to repair the broken inner joint.

In the afternoon of the same day, Chris and Hyacinth showed the public a variety of enclosures and how they are made from beginning to end. There were corrugated clamshell boxes, one with an integrated cradle, cloth clamshell boxes, tuxedo boxes and a Japanese four-sided enclosure.

Chris also brought a corrugated clamshell in its early stages to show the public how the process of making a corrugated clamshell begins.

Chris and Hyacinth behind table that displays various enclosures to protect books. Enclosures are made of binder board, corrugated blue board, and book clothe.
Chris and Hyacinth showing their display of models and enclosures.
Students and Hyacinth with the 4-flap Japanese enclosure open. The 4 flaps form a cross with the book laid in the center.
Hyacinth explaining to some UC students the different Japanese four-sided enclosure compared to other enclosures.
Table with various corrugated boxes highlighted, including one box that has a built in cradle.
The different enclosures that Chris and Hyacinth showed to the public.
Three library visitors and Hyacinth at the table displaying various enclosures.
Hyacinth sharing with an interested public.

The crowd favorites were the elaborate cloth covered clamshell box made by Chris, and the beautiful Japanese four-sided enclosure made by Hyacinth.

Even though this was a smaller event compared to our open house tours of the past, the event was a success; allowing the Preservation Lab staff  to share with the  UC community a peek into our daily work and explain what goes on in the Preservation Lab. But Preservation week is not done yet…

This upcoming Friday, April 29th at 1 pm, join Holly and Ashleigh at the Clifton Branch of the  Cincinnati and Hamilton Public Library, .They will be showing some books models, explaining how books are made and what materials are used. You can find more details in the following link: https://cincinnatilibrary.bibliocommons.com/events/625422b5cd8e792f000bcfc5

Catarina Figueirinhas (UCL) —- Assistant Conservator

Celebrate Preservation Week with Us!

In celebration of ALA’s annual Preservation Week (April 24th-30th), Preservation Lab staff will be offering live demos and show & tells this week and next, both at UC Libraries and the Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library:

Each session will be unique, with different staff members showing off different aspects of preservation and conservation!

Jessica Ebert [UCL] – Sr. Conservation & Photographic Documentation Specialist