Preservation Needs Assessment for Warner Memorial Library's Special Collections of Graphic Arts

FAIN: PG-51019-10

Eastern University (Wayne, PA 19087-3617)
Andrea Dawne Reed (Project Director: May 2009 to September 2011)

Funding supports a preservation needs assessment of the library's Special Collections of nearly 2,000 items. They include a collection of 238 bookplates and books related to bookplates; the French Art Books Collection of 74 volumes illustrated by leading French graphic artists, published in the 18th-20th centuries; a collection of 1,315 prints in all techniques, dating from 1498 to 1970; and a collection of long runs of illustrated periodicals.

Warner Memorial Library at Eastern University seeks funding to support an overall preservation needs assessment of the library's special collections by a professional preservation consultant. The main focus of this project are collections of richly illustrated books, prints, bookplates, and periodicals that present a relevant and valuable visual history to students and scholars of American and European graphic artistry from the 16th through the 20th century. The goal of this activity is to produce a report that analyzes the collections' current preservation needs. This report will be used in preparing short and long term recommendations for the collections' maintenance and care, and will also help initiate the library's long term goal of increasing accessibility and use of these collections by students and scholars. This will make the collections relevant again to the University community by supporting the University's mission to develop intellectual curiosity.