General Collections Conservation

Items in need of repair are sent to the conservation lab according to a circulation-based system. Staff at the circulation desk identifies damaged material as it is returned to the library, and sends this material to the conservation lab for treatment. Newer materials (printed after 1930) receive basic repairs, often performed by student employees. Older materials are treated by conservation staff, with more attention to retaining the historical appearance of the bindings.

The conservation unit also treats new acquisitions to the library collections, which may need minor alterations or reinforcement before shelving. These treatments include tipping in pages, sewing pamphlets into binders, creating pockets for loose material, and occasionally reinforcing the covers of paperback books.

• Information about our general collections treatment procedures
• Commercial binding and in-house treatment options for new acquisitions (restricted to Dartmouth College Library staff)
• General collections conservation treatment manual (restricted to Preservation Services staff)