The Preservation Directorate has developed a framework for research advancing the care of human record, based on a National Preservation Research Agenda developed in consultation with leading scientific laboratories. The Library has compiled a matrix (MS Excel) showing preservation science projects posed or undertaken by libraries, archives and museums worldwide. Research by the Library and other active labs takes many forms, ranging from scientific and forensic characterization studies to the development of treatments. The following table provides periodic updates for a typical selection of Research Projects undertaken at the Library, with background on the need for the research, the state of knowledge on the topic, a description of the project, and findings, results and outcomes. For more of the Library’s studies, see our updates for Analytical and Quality Assurance Projects, which include Library of Congress Specifications. For publications by Library staff on other projects, such as the effects of solvents on paper, treatment of mold, definitions of artifactual value, energy sustainability, and hundreds of other areas of past research, see Staff Publications.
Environmental Studies
- Anoxic Encasements: Visual Storage
- Environmental Monitoring: Climate Notebook and Web-based Climate Control System
- Evaluation of Storage Materials: Alternatives to the Oddy Test
- Indigenous Storage Materials
- Lab Renovation: Increasing Energy Efficiency and Reducing Environmental Impact
- Storage Materials: Determining Purity of Polyester Films for Use in Encapsulation of Collection Materials
- Storage Materials: Effects of Zeolites
Preservation of Traditional Materials
- Adhesives (see Quality Assurance)
- Aging: Improved Accelerated Aging Testing Techniques
- Aging: 100 Year Paper Natural Aging Program
- Books: Leather Dressings
- Books: Light Stability of New Book Cover Options
- Book and Paper: Volatile Organic Compound Testing
- Corrosive Media: Iron Gall Ink Corrosion
- Corrosive Media: Verdigris
- Mass Deacidification: Saving the Written Word
- Paper Strengthening through Paper Splitting
- Parchment: Cold Storage of Vellum
- Parchment: Integrated Forensic Investigations
- Photographs: The Effects of Solvent Treatments
- Photographs: Early Ungilded Daguerrotype Images
- Recycled Fiber Paper: Longevity Study
- Treatment evaluations: Cellulose Acetate Laminates
Preservation of Audio-Visual Materials
- Imaging of Laterally and Vertically Grooved Analog Audio Recordings
- 3-D Confocal Imaging of Vertically Groved Analog Audio Records
- Magnetic Tape “Sticky Shed” Research: Characterization, Diagnosis, and Treatment
- Documenting Sound Fidelity in Magnetic Audio Tapes Before and After Baking
Preservation of Digital Materials
- CD ROM Longevity Research
- CD-R and DVD-R RW Longevity Research
- DVD ROM Longevity Research
Time-Based Media
Technology Transfer
- Anoxia: Fire Suppression System Tests
- Dating of Materials by Radiocarbon Dating
- Direct Analysis in Real Time Mass Spectrometry (DART-MS)
- Haptic Technology for Use in Conservation Training
- Integrated Digital Imaging Systems: Hyperspectral Imaging
- Laser Cleaning of Documents
- Instrumentation Analysis Resources at the Library of Congress
Experimental Sample Reference Collection
- The Barrow Book Collection: Characterization and Access
- Center for the Library's Analytical Science Samples (CLASS): Dedicated Collection space for the Library’s Valuable and World-Renowned Scientific Study Specimens
- The Forbes’ Pigment Reference Collection: Characterization Using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and X-ray Fluorescence (XRF)
- The TAPPI Standard Paper Reference Collection : Characterization Using Optical and Scanning Electron Microscopy
