Conservation

Photo: Christian Capurro

Knitting, coding, and the stars: caring for a time-based media artwork in a library collection – Part 1

August 4, 2023

Collection Care, Conservation, Exhibitions:

Through a two-part blog, gain a behind-the-scenes insight into ‘Stargazing’, a contemporary multimedia artwork that was the centrepiece of the Library’s Handmade Universe exhibition. Learn about the process of preparing it for display, a preventive conservation treatment undertaken once the artwork was deinstalled, and considerations for its care and future access.

A-Z of Collection Care: Part 2

A-Z of Collection Care: Part 2

April 28, 2023

Collection Care, Conservation, Preservation, Tips and tricks:

Looking for some more insights into the day-to-day activities of the Library’s Collection Care team?

Part 2 of the A-Z of Collection Care series takes us from marvellous maps to pesky pests and beyond.

Reconstructing Brockhoff’s Crispette billboard – Part 3: Digitisation

Reconstructing Brockhoff’s Crispette billboard – Part 3: Digitisation

March 28, 2023

Collection Care, Conservation, Digitisation:

In part 3 of this series, which was inspired by the conservation treatment of an enormous biscuit billboard, join our Digital Production team as they share the finer details of this complex digitisation process.

Reconstructing Brockhoff’s Crispette billboard – Part 2: Conservation treatment

Reconstructing Brockhoff’s Crispette billboard – Part 2: Conservation treatment

March 28, 2023

Collection Care, Conservation:

In part 2 of this series, follow along as our paper conservators stabilise an enormous billboard for Brockhoff’s popular Crispette supper cracker.

Reconstructing Brockhoff’s Crispette billboard – Part 1: Brockhoff Biscuits and the perfect supper cracker

Reconstructing Brockhoff’s Crispette billboard – Part 1: Brockhoff Biscuits and the perfect supper cracker

March 28, 2023

Collection Care, Conservation, Digitisation:

In part 1 of this series, which was inspired by the conservation treatment of an enormous biscuit billboard, learn about Melbourne’s own Brockhoff Biscuits and their perfect supper cracker, the Crispette.

A-Z of Collection Care

A-Z of Collection Care

February 24, 2023

Collection, Collection Care, Conservation, Digitisation, Preservation, Preventive conservation, Registration and loans, Tips and tricks:

Curious about the effects of light or the stories behind old repairs? Ever wondered why old books yellow over time? Keen for a peek behind the scenes of Library exhibitions? Read on!

Bushfires: protecting your treasures

Bushfires: protecting your treasures

December 22, 2020

Collection Care, Conservation, Preservation:

It’s bushfire season again. How can you reduce the risk of loss of treasured objects before a disaster and what sort of salvage strategies can you use to recover them? If you live in an area where bushfire is an all too real possibility, it’s never too soon to start planning for their preservation.

Constitution Hill at

Conservation rejuvenates ‘Constitution Hill at Sun set’

December 15, 2020

Collection Care, Conservation:

During the Library closure, Collection Care had the opportunity of attending to the conservation treatment of one of the Library’s iconic paintings, Constitution Hill by colonial artist John Glover. Recent conservation treatment has transformed its appearance and inspired a new appreciation of this important work.

Detail of Blinky Bill and Mrs Koala, Dorothy Wall, [between 1933 and 1940?]; H2015.180/28

Blinky Bill: in the Conservation Lab

October 9, 2020

Collection Care, Conservation:

Blinky Bill has been a favourite amongst Australian children since he first made an appearance in the 1933 book Blinky Bill: The Quaint Little Australian. A collection of drawings by author and illustrator Dorothy Wall (1894–1942) were recently acquired by the Library – several of which have come to the Conservation Lab for assessment and treatment.

Perfecting the lighting of a series of exhibition prints during installation

The changing face of Victoria: behind-the-scenes with Conservation

August 6, 2020

Collection Care, Conservation, Registration and loans:

The Conservation department play a major role in the development of exhibitions at the Library. We recently completed work on the installation of the Changing Face of Victoria exhibition, which this year involved preparing over 150 items for display.

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