Environment
All materials found in museum collections are subject to natural aging and degradation. This process can be accelerated by uncontrolled environments and/or inadequate housing.
Light, Temperature and Relative Humidity, and Pollutants effect the rate at which a collection is damaged. By controlling these factors of deterioration, you will greatly reduce the "aging" of your collection.
Books and products we recommend:
 CCI Notes is the most important collection care publication a museum can purchase. A collection of over 90 technical leaflets written for a broad audience, topics in this continually expanding series range from "Removing Mould from Leather" to "Storage for Costume Accessories" and "Indoor Display of Industrial Collections." CCI Notes are illustrated, include supplier lists and a thorough bibliography. Note: this publication is not a compilation of the CCI technical bulletins. CCI Notes
Table of Contents
1. Care of Collections - General Guidelines
2. Preventive Conservation
3. The Museum Environment - Biological Factors
4. Archaeological and Field Conservation
5. Ceramics and Glass
6. Care of Ethnographic Materials
7. Furniture and Wooden Artifacts
8. Leather, Skin and Fur
9. Metals
10. Paintings and Polychrome Sculpture
11. Paper and Books
12. Stone and Plaster
13. Textiles and Fibres
14. Planning for Disaster Management
15. Other Materials
16. Care of Photographic Materials
17. Spot Tests in Conservation
18. Conservation Equipment
 Preventive Conservation in Museums: Video Handbook compliments the 19-video series on preventive conservation. Each chapter is the script of one of the videos. Subjects include an introduction to preventive conservation, storage, the condition report, relative humidity and temperature, the care of textiles, protecting objects on exhibit, emergency and disaster planning, and closing a seasonal museum.
 Framework for the Preservation of Museum Collections Wall Chart outlines various methods that can be used to avoid or control potential deterioration of museum objects. The rows list nine agents of deterioration (direct physical forces: thieves, vandals, displacers; fire; water; pests; contaminants; radiation; incorrect temperature and incorrect relative humidity), while the columns present three different levels at which the agent deterioration can be controlled. The procedures column outlines actions that can be taken. English/Spanish.
 Silica Gel by Raymond H. Lafontaine provides information on the use of silica gel, how it controls RH, and how it is conditioned for use and maintained. Specific topics dealt with include: the problems of display case leakage, how silica gel fulfills the requirements of a humidity buffering agent, and the maintenance of a silica gel buffered display case.
Controlling Museum Fungal Problems by Thomas J.K. Strang and John E. Dawson provides guidance on identifying a fungal problem, fungal problems in wood outdoors, and controlling fungi.
 Controlling Vertebrate Pests in Museums by Thomas J.K. Strang and John E. Dawson examines the detrimental affect that rodents have on museum collections. Vertebrate animals can soil or destroy artifacts. Prompt identification of the pest and the use of suitable methods to control it are essential. In most cases, non-chemical methods can be used to control vertebrate pests in museums; chemical methods are also discussed.
 Solving Museum Insect Problems: Chemical Control by John E. Dawson and revised by Thomas J.K. Strang is intended to help museum staff understand commercial pest control operations. It describes chemical methods of controlling insects, and includes information on regulations, modes of action, and application methods necessary for the safe use of insecticides. A detailed guide helps in decision-making about the appropriate chemical method of control.
Vol.1 No.4
Indoor Generated Pollutants
Vol.1 No.2
Vacuum Cleaners
For general information on environment and collection concerns see:
Links to related information on other sites:
Report on Conference on Collections Environments
http://palimpsest.stanford.edu/byform/
mailing-lists/cdl/1997/1115.html
Symposium of Collections Environments
(links/bibliographies)
http://www.si.edu/mci/english/professional_development/
past_courses_programs/courses/symposium_of_collections_environments.html
Furniture Care & Handling - The Environment
http://www.si.edu/mci/downloads/articles/furnbook.pdf
Practical Climate Control: A Selected, Annotated Bibliography
http://palimpsest.stanford.edu/byauth/
kerschner/ccbiblio.html
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