We recommend parking in Woodside Garage
(2913 Woodside Drive) connected to Langsam Library – where the Preservation Lab is located. The garage is located on the corner of MLK Drive W. and Woodside Dr. When you turn onto Woodside Dr., it will be the 1st parking garage on your right.
Once you park in the garage, take the stairs or elevator to the entrance of Langsam Library. Once you enter into the library, follow the signs down to the lab!
We’re excited to announce that the Madisonville branch is in its final stages to re-open their newly renovated space! Please join the library for the opening event March 18th! At the event, the Genealogy and Local History Department staff member, Chris Smith will talk about Madisonville’s history from 3:30 pm – 4 pm.
During the event, the Madisonville scrapbook will be on view for festivities March 18th.
Because this material is HUGE and considered a rare irreplaceable item, both the book and cradle were hand delivered from one building to another by Preservation Lab and Madisonville staff. Below are “behind the scenes” images showing the delivery of these oversized materials.
View of book in its prior home location, recently cleared of books:
For transport, the oversized book was stored in a lightweight (but strong!) custom enclosure:
The custom enclosure consists of multiple light-weight layers and flaps of foam, all tied together with cotton ties, as shown in Chris’ schematic. This enclosure will be used both for transport and for long-term storage.
Once packaged, both the book and cradle were hand delivered to their new home next door:
The book now awaits the re-opening event while staff continue unpacking the rest of collections!
We hope to see you there!
Ashleigh Ferguson Schieszer [CHPL] – Rare book and paper conservator
To read about the conservation of the scrapbook and construction of the book’s cradle, please see the treatment documentation and a prior blog article titled, Madisonville Scrapbook.
As a bonus, to celebrate the completion of the oversized treatment, Chris created a comic you can fold from an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper. Check out the printable file below! Instructions on how to fold can be found on the Preservation Lab’s YouTube channel video titled Preserving Scrapbooks beginning at the 10:42 time stamp.
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
As mentioned in a previous blog post, Andrew and Naomi from Case Western Reserve came to the lab in late February to demo the MISHA portable multispectral imaging system, made possible by a National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Research Grant awarded to the Rochester Institute of Technology. In total, Naomi and Andrew imaged five objects from the Public Library, UC Libraries, and one of our third-party institutional clients. Imaged books included, one Otto Ege item, two Book of Hours, one undated Latin music manuscript, and a Pentateuch volume from Hebrew Union College. In all, thirteen separate capture sessions were carried out for the five objects. Afterwards, the raw data from the capture sessions was shared with the Lab via OSF (Open Science Framework) so that I could process the data in the NEH grant supported open access RCHIVE (Rochester Cultural Heritage Image processing and Visualization Environment) software.
The image gallery above shows the recto of leaf 32 from the Public Library’s copy of Fifty Original Leaves from Medieval Manuscripts, Western Europe, XII-XVI century, by Otto Ege.
While each of the capture sessions took only two minutes to complete, I found that processing the raw data took me a bit longer to figure out. Processing the data felt very similar to using CHI’s RTI Builder and Viewer software. However, in this situation I did not have a week-long training opportunity to learn the ins and outs of the software and its functions. For the Spectral Analysis App, I had only a couple of brief documents to refer to, so the learning curve was a little steeper. I also experienced some issues with the software while processing the data with the flatfield files provided from the capture session. But in the end, the processed files seemed fine without the flatfield data, so it all worked out.
The above image gallery depicts a leaf from Hebrew Union College’s Pentateuch Ms. 1 with adhesive staining, tape, and prior repairs.
What I discovered through processing all the MISHA data and then comparing it to the existing specialized imaging done in the Lab was that the suite of imaging we do in the Lab is very well rounded and, in general, suits our needs and our clientele quite well. In many cases, our results were at least comparable, if not better (specifically within the UV wavelengths) than the results accomplished using the MISHA. And, especially with our UV workflow, though our current capture time might be slightly longer than that of MISHA, the data processing time is significantly shorter and, in the case of UV especially, the side-by-side results of the accurate normal illumination next to the full color UV image(s) is ideal for our purposes.
The images above show an example of scraped text on parchment from UC Libraries Hours of the Virgin from 1475, currently in the Lab for treatment. Compare these MISHA generated images to the documentation performed by Catarina Figueirinhas and myself using the Lab’s equipment and processes below.
That said, I am fully aware that not everyone has access to the equipment/training that I have been fortunate to curate/experience over the last five plus years. Also, not everyone uses their finished data exactly how we do. For instance, the needs and expectations of a conservation lab and cultural heritage institutions can be very different. Even within the conservation field, how we use the data provided by specialized imaging in our hybrid book and paper lab is quite different from the kind of data needed by a fine arts conservation lab. Ultimately, I think the core audience for a system like the MISHA system is an organization looking to expand their suite of imaging services, or an institution with no multispectral imaging infrastructure interested in imaging collections in a quick and easy manner. Though for the latter, I would say that there is a big learning curve in manipulating and processing the data, but if greater focus is put into making the software and processing steps user-friendly, especially to novice users, it is completely manageable. And if this step is taken, I think the system could help a lot of institutions dive deeper into the materiality and history of their collections.
The images above depict another example of faded, scraped text. This flyleaf is from an undated Latin music manuscript that is part of the Public Library’s collection. The images below represent imaging done by the Lab, both normal illumination and UV radiation, with the goal to increase the legibility of the inscription.
In the end, multispectral imaging is just plain FUN! So, the idea of making it more accessible to a wider audience is extremely exciting and I think the work that NEH, RIT, and colleagues like Andrew and Naomi are doing to share the power and wonder of multispectral imaging is amazing. The idea of a portable multispectral imaging system with free processing software that does not take a PhD to use is boundary-breaking, and it gives us a glimpse into a future of accessible and exciting imaging, which thus allows us to see and understand more of the past. I will always be an advocate for that kind of imaging!
Jessica Ebert [UCL] – Sr. Conservation & Photographic Documentation Specialist
Winter is approaching here in Cincinnati, far too quickly for my taste! But at the Lab we have been thinking about a winter staple a bit differently… The sled! A book sled, that is. This open-topped carrier of bound treasures has become the newest edition to our enclosure family. It is perfect for housing oversized books to be stored flat, as it enables easy transport of these large tomes, without adding too much extra weight.
The sled has been honed and developed over the years by conservation professionals, but it has its roots at the Newberry in Chicago, where they were used to house their large antiphonary collection. I had the privilege of working at the Newberry prior to joining the incredible team here at The Preservation Lab, so the idea of starting to create book sleds at the Lab has been lurking at the back of my mind. At the Newberry, I was able to create my very first book sled, and understand the simple, yet highly functional structure.
The book sled was refined by Ann Lindsey and Melina Avery from the University of Chicago when they treated and housed a 52-pound antiphonary from their collection. They were able to design a sled with additional walls and stronger reinforcements. Chris Saclolo from the University of Central Florida further enhanced the book sled by adding wall reinforcements and a removable lower tray.
When the Lab received an elephant folio from the University of Cincinnati Classic’s Library that needed treatment and housing, we were able to create the very first book sled at our Lab! Housing a book over 20 inches tall is no easy feat, so we were thrilled to be able to use the experience and advice from our fellow conservation professionals. I worked alongside Chris Voynovich and Catarina Figueirinhas (because 3 minds are so much better than 1) where we problem solved, planned, and constructed this large book sled. The finished sled design closely follows Saclolo’s recommendations, with minor adjustments to the tray, as our book did not have bosses.
Ultimately, the book sled will allow the book, Facsimiles of National Manuscripts of Ireland, to be visible on the shelf while also aiding in transporting the book through the library when needed. It will also prevent additional damage and abrasion to the leather at the spine, which received a reback during treatment.
We already have additional oversized books in the Lab for treatment, so more sleds will be on the docket this winter!
Kasie Janssen (CHPL) – Senior Conservation Technician
The monographic series, Suave Mechanicals: Essays on the History of Bookbinding, just released volume 6 this month. Edited by Julia Miller and published by The Legacy Press (Cathleen A. Baker, publisher), the series focuses on in-depth analysis of historical binding structures, avenues for documenting these structures, and spreading awareness of their importance in bibliographic, conservation, and interdisciplinary research.
Included in this new volume is an essay co-authored by Ashleigh Ferguson Schieszer and myself titled “Adding Value: Increasing Access and Visibility to Historic Binding Structures.” The essay reviews work conducted in the Preservation Lab to document, preserve, and promote the special collections of the University of Cincinnati Libraries and the Public Library or Cincinnati and Hamilton County.
The processes and production described in our essay would not have been possible without the knowledge and expertise of the Lab’s staff, student staff, and volunteers who have traveled through our basement doors to make the Preservation Lab the special place it is today…and always has been. As our essay went to the publisher prior to the hiring of our newest team member, we would like to provide the following amended acknowledgement list:
This essay is couched in terms of “what the lab does and why.” Behind each of these actions is a staff member that had the idea and made it happen. The authors are grateful to the past and current Preservation Lab staff: Jessica Ebert, Catarina Figueirinhas, Gabrielle Fox, Sidney Gao, Kasie Janssen, Kathy Lechuga, Patrick Schmude, Veronica Sorcher, Hyacinth Tucker, Chris Voynovich, and our dedicated students and volunteers.
Please visit The Legacy Press (http://www.thelegacypress.com/) to learn more about this volume and to peruse the other amazing books they have to offer.
Holly Prochaska (UCL) — Preservation Librarian, and co-manager, The Preservation Lab
As things change daily in Ohio, we’re staying informed by listening to Governor Mike DeWine’s press briefings at 2pm, in addition to updates from UCL and the Public Library.
In particular, we recommend accessing the Public Library’s COVID-19 web page to see what info and resources the Library is sharing daily, such as how to obtain after school snacks provided by the UMC Food Ministry.
Another resource we’d like to pass along is about the management of collections when faced with a public health emergency. Please see the Massachusetts COSTEP website about collections maintenance, environmental cleaning, and library lending:
*Update 3/27/2020: The American Institute for Conservation (AIC) has also published a useful list of Collections Care Amid Covid-19 resources to check out. See the Ohio Preservation Council’s COVID-19 page as well.
As of Monday (3/16/2020) the Preservation Lab staff are practicing safe social distancing by sheltering in place. We have packed up our benches and transformed our personal living spaces into productive places to work from home.
To stay connected, we use iPads or laptops and have a Preservation Lab Microsoft Team set up for instant communication, video chat, and file sharing. VPN and Remote Access were also heroically provided in extremely short notice by UCL IT staff.
Our work from home projects range from online learning opportunities, research we wish we always had the time to do, report writing, model making, exhibit preparation from pre-cut materials prepared ahead of time, box making (from pre-measured books), and general collections treatment.
We also have a longer list of work-from-home-ideas should the pandemic sheltering last more than a few weeks. These include:
…And more such as the list provided by Duke’s Preservation Lab Team:
For those interested in learning along with us, the lab’s short list of at-home professional development opportunities include the following FREE courses/webinars:
With so much evolving on a daily basis, remember to take a second to take care of your mental well-being. We recommend the following UC presentation on Seeking Well-Being: Self Compassion and Mindfulness as well as The Science of of Well-Being course offered by Yale.
Ashleigh Ferguson Schieszer – Special Collections Conservator (PLCH)
The Preservation Lab and lab staff were in the news twice this week.
The News Record 3/27/2019
Edible book by Jessica Ebert
In October, the Preservation Lab welcomed special collections digital imaging to our workflow (for UC Libraries’ materials). This new function necessitated a small lab renovation:
During (top three images) and after (bottom two images):
The results are wonderful and we are so happy to have a new staff member!
Ashleigh Ferguson Schieszer (PLCH) – Special Collections Conservator, Lab Manager
