Margaret B. Harrison Preservation Lab
Preservation Treatment
Over the life of a library book, it sees a fair amount of use, often resulting in normal wear and tear. You may have checked out books that show some signs of use: dented corners, worn hinges, and damaged book spines. The Margaret B. Harrison Conservation Lab is where those books go to be repaired.
Career and student staff are responsible for the binding and repair of circulating library material. Materials meeting certain criteria are repaired in the Preservation Lab. Other damaged materials are sent to the UC Bindery for either re-casing or re-binding.
Books needing attention are usually identified by the Circulation/Shelving staff who direct them to Preservation Lab, where treatment options are considered.
The career staff are also integral members of the UC Davis Library Disaster Response Team.
History of the Preservation Lab
The UC Davis Library dedicated its Preservation Services on September 13, 1990, in commemoration of a longtime library supporter and bookbinder, Margaret B. Harrison.
Margaret B. Harrison became interested in bookbinding in the 1930s, apprenticing for a time with master bookbinder Hazel Dreis. Although she had originally planned to teach bookbinding, World War II intervened, and Mrs. Harrison spent the war years as an adjutant and then commanding officer in the Sacramento Women’s Ambulance and Transportation Corps.
She did not pursue teaching, but for more than four decades, her bookbinding skills enabled her to bind and preserve a number of volumes within the Western Americana collection that she and her husband, Michael, were acquiring.
After Mrs. Harrison’s death in 1980, her binding equipment and supplies were bequeathed to the UC Davis Library to support its binding efforts. In memory of his wife, Michael Harrison provided an endowment, the income from which is used to augment the library’s ongoing preservation programs.
Mrs. Harrison’s half interest in the Michael and Margaret B. Harrison Western Research Center was also bequeathed to the library.
Preservation Resources
UC Davis Library Preservation can only repair or bind materials which belong to the UC Davis Library. For your convenience, we provide the following list of resources.
NEDCC
Founded in 1973, NEDCC is the first independent conservation laboratory in the nation to specialize exclusively in treating collections made of paper or parchment, such as works of art, photographs, books, maps, manuscripts, and more. The Center offers conservation treatment, digital imaging, and audio preservation services, as well as training, consultations, and disaster advice for collections. NEDCC is a trusted resource for information on the preservation of paper-based collections.
Core, American Library Association
A division of the American Library Association, Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures sponsors Preservation Week and offers preservation tips, guides, videos and more resources on preserving items in a variety of formats, including books, audio, video, photos, textiles and digital files.
American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works
AIC is the national membership organization supporting conservation professionals in preserving cultural heritage by establishing and upholding professional standards, promoting research and publications, providing educational opportunities, and fostering the exchange of knowledge among conservators, allied professionals, and the public.
Simple Book Repair Manual
The web version of the Simple Book Repair Manual was created by members of Preservation Services, Dartmouth College Library. Copyright 1996 the Board of Trustees of Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire.
Image Permanence Institute
IPI was founded in 1985 through the combined efforts and sponsorship of the Rochester Institute of Technology and the Society for Imaging Science and Technology. IPI provides information, consulting services, practical tools and preservation technology to libraries, archives, and museums worldwide.