Blog topic: Preservation

Conservation Services welcomed Aisha Wahab on September 9, 2019 to serve as Stanford Libraries first full-time paper conservator. She will be working on collection materials including maps, broadsides, deeds, posters, and other items made of paper or parchment. She’s already begun consulting with Special Collections staff on housing flat paper materials in archival collections. She’ll be part of our “conservation office hour” visits.

After 20+ years of service to the Stanford Libraries, rare book conservator David Brock is retiring at the end of May. We are so happy to acknowledge the great contributions he has made to both the collections and the people of Stanford Libraries.

A flood in the library caused by a burst pipe.

An accidental fire sprinkler discharge resulting in a voluminous mist spraying down on bookshelves.

Heavy rains lead to an unexpected roof leak in the early hours of the morning.

These scenarios strike fear in the heart of any person working in libraries and archives as they think of precious collections potentially being damaged beyond repair. Unfortunately, these scenarios aren't just the stuff of bad dreams: a water disaster - big or small - can happen at the most unsuspecting of times.