Collection Care

A hidden treasure, no more: Conservation treatment of ‘View of the north shore’

A hidden treasure, no more: Conservation treatment of ‘View of the north shore’

April 18, 2019

Collection Care, Conservation, Our stories:

Conservation treatment has returned strength and aesthetic unity to this vibrant watercolour, allowing this important artwork to be appreciated by the public once more.

Women in science at the Library

Women in science at the Library

February 11, 2019

Collection Care, Conservation, Our stories:

Believe it or not, science is a vital part of the State Library’s day-to-day operations. In the Library’s Preservation and Conservation department we celebrate 16 brilliant women of science.

An illuminated Qur’an from the Michael Abbott Collection of Southeast Asian Islamic Manuscripts. Photograph: Emily Keppel

Islamic Bookbinding

November 23, 2017

Collection Care, Conservation, Our stories, Preservation:

While the Western tradition of bookbinding is well represented in the State Library Victoria (SLV) collection, the Library also holds a small but fascinating assortment of manuscripts produced in the Islamic world. A clear understanding of the different materials and structures used in the production of Islamic manuscripts is essential for the Library’s Book Conservators to make informed decisions regarding appropriate methods for preservation, repair and display.

Inside the lab: How we prepare for an exhibition

Inside the lab: How we prepare for an exhibition

January 24, 2017

Collection Care, Conservation, Our stories, Registration and loans:

The Library’s Conservation department works behind-the-scenes to ensure all collection and loan material selected for an exhibition is prepared and installed to a museum standard. The recent installation of ON AIR: 40 years of 3RRR was no exception.

Preservation: caring for our collections

Preservation: caring for our collections

December 1, 2016

Collection Care, Our stories, Preventive conservation:

The Library’s Preservation team work to ensure the ongoing care, preservation and access of our collections. Here the team bring you inside their work, from the quarantine room where items are checked for pests and mould, to the preservation studio where an average of 50,000 items are re-housed in any given year.

Electronic Game - Sunwing UFO, Source: Museum Victoria, Copyright Museum Victoria

Save the Game.

August 12, 2016

Preservation:

Videogames have a preservation issue. The perpetual and profitable march ‘forward’ by technology renders videogames obsolete within years of their release.

Alligator North Australia, ca. 1900-ca. 1914, H91.93/112

Long-term thinking for your born digital legacy

August 11, 2016

Preservation:

Recently my attention was captured by the clickbaity headline, “The couple who rescued their iPhone from the jaws of an ALLIGATOR to save their photos of their ten-month-old son”, because it’s a great starting point for thinking about personal digital archiving.

My life and digital preservation

My life and digital preservation

August 11, 2016

Preservation:

Over time, digital preservation has moved from a preoccupation with physical objects which embodied digital files, to online digital content.

Game-changer: collecting born-digital manuscripts

Game-changer: collecting born-digital manuscripts

August 10, 2016

Collection, Preservation:

Collecting born-digital manuscripts poses some exciting challenges for the Library’s Manuscripts Collection. Here, Dr Kevin Molloy reveals how this type of material is a game-changer for collecting institutions and peoples’ own personal records.

Digital forensics at galleries, libraries, archives and museums

Digital forensics at galleries, libraries, archives and museums

August 8, 2016

Preservation:

A rapidly growing body of materials with significant cultural value are “born digital.” Galleries, libraries, archives and museums (GLAMs) are increasingly called upon to move born-digital materials that are stored on removable media (e.g. floppy disks, flash drives, CD-ROMs, hard drives) into more sustainable preservation environments.