Portuguese archives and libraries: a century of preservation and conservation practices for the control of biodeterioration

Authors

  • Conceição Casanova Departamento de Conservação e Restauro, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Campus Caparica, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal; LAQV – REQUIMTE, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Campus Caparica, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9889-381X
  • Ana Catarina Pinheiro Laboratório Hércules  Herança Cultural, Estudos e Salvaguarda, Universidade de Évora, Palácio do Vimioso, Largo Marquês de Marialva, 8, 7000-809 Évora, Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7194-5496

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14568/cp2020004

Keywords:

Biodeterioration, Preventive Conservation, Archives, Libraries, Contamination, Sustainability

Abstract

Biodeterioration has been a central subject for libraries and archives. Throughout the ages, different preventive and curative conservation measures were adopted to manage biodeterioration in Portuguese institutions, but the problem persists. A historic review of different methodologies used to prevent biodeterioration in the Portuguese context is
presented and compared to international trends. It focuses on theories and practices of paper conservation on par with their evolution and a comparison between the art collectors’ world and libraries and archives is also made. Biodeterioration management has always been a major concern, namely amid librarians and archivists, among the first ones to endorse the implementation of preservation policies. Although preservation awareness has a relatively long history, it is vital to encourage a better understanding of it at the decision-making level. In fact, the implementation of preventive conservation strategies continues to be unsatisfactory, despite the current sustainability issues and the dangers of handling contaminated documentation.

 

Received: 2020-1-23
Revised: 2020-4-28
Accepted: 2020-5-28
Online: 2020-5-28
Publication: 2021-2-10

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Published

2021-02-10

How to Cite

Casanova, C., & Pinheiro, A. C. (2021). Portuguese archives and libraries: a century of preservation and conservation practices for the control of biodeterioration. Conservar Património, 36, 46–61. https://doi.org/10.14568/cp2020004

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