The Preservation Directorate has a Quality Assurance Program that evaluates materials to ensure that they are stable and safe to be used in contact with the Library’s priceless collections. Materials are tested to meet the rigorous performance and composition requirements stipulated in Library of Congress specifications. The work of this Program comprises tests that identify the chemical composition of materials used for conservation treatments and housings, such as folders and boxes, and that measures physical properties, such as strength and durability of the materials. The following table provies periodic updates for a typical selection of projects.
Specifications
- Specification Development Working Group
- Library of Congress Specifications for Housing and Storage Materials
Materials Testing
- Standard Testing Method: ASTM, TAPPI, ISO
- Indigenous Storage Materials Project
Instrumentation
- Instrumentation Analysis Resources at the Library of Congress
- TAPPI Environmental Chamber for Material Testing
- Physical Testing
- Chemical Testing
Related Research Initiatives
- NISO/LC Binding Research
- Alternative Book board Testing
- Comparison of Grade F Buckram and Alternative Book Cloth Materials
- Pressure Sensitive Adhesive Labels Testing
- Storage Materials: Determining Purity of Polyester Film for Use in Encapsulation of Collection Materials
- Storage Materials: Effects of Zeolites
