Working with Collections : Preserving

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This section provides a starting point for those caring for Burns artefacts. Specific museum, library and archive standards of care are referred to throughout, but they all share a common end: preserving valuable material by measuring environmental risk and taking action.

By assessing what systems you have in place to care for and record collections, practical advice on avoiding damage (preventive conservation) and what to do when damage has already occurred (remedial conservation) is available. Caring for an aging collection is often an uphill struggle, but this section aims to make life easier!

This section contains:

• What is Preservation? A brief outline of some of the main environmental risks to artefacts.
• Self assessment and opportunities for action. An excellent Collection Care pack compiled by the South West Museums Council.
• Improving Collection Care. Where to go and what to do to take preventive action.
• Conservation studios and agencies. A list of specialists in remedial conservation.