Conservation Division
The Conservation Division (CD) ensures continued access to the Library’s special collections by providing assessments, surveys, reviews, housing, stabilization, and treatment of objects for research, exhibits, digitization, loans, and collection moves and other storage improvements.
In addition, Conservation staff members undertake and publish groundbreaking research that leads to new protocols and best practices, and participate in workshops, conferences, and other collaborative arrangements both nationally and internationally. Staff also exchange knowledge through lectures, workshops, and tours at the Library, which are accessible remotely via the Internet whenever possible.
The Conservation Division hosts advanced conservation training internships in the specialty areas of book, paper, photograph, and preventive conservation.
Preventive Conservation
Conservation Division staff members monitor, analyze, and continually work to optimize storage and exhibit environments in the Library buildings on Capitol Hill as well as in Landover and Fort Meade, Maryland and in Culpeper, Virginia.
Conservation staff members also assess development plans affecting Library storage, including buildings, stack spaces, and furniture; source preservation supplies for all curatorial housing and labeling needs; design and create new housing and storage solutions to rehouse collections; and prepare collections for optimized storage.
Finally, Conservation Division provides handling guidance and regular emergency preparedness training.
Treatment Work
Beyond preventive work, Conservation staff members provide active care for the Library's special collections through conservation treatments and by leading and deploying the emergency response following events that threaten collections.
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