Preventative Bibliography

This bibliography was initially prepared in May 2002 by Bruno Pouliot, with the collaboration and assistance of Linda Lennon, Winterthur Class of 1997, who then served as Assistant Conservator on different projects at Winterthur Museum and for WUDPAC. Responsibility for the bibliography was passed to Dr. Joelle Wickens in 2009. It is constantly updated and your suggestions for new sources are welcome. Resources can be filtered by the following topics: Collections Care, General Reference, Emergency Preparedness and Response, Environmental Management, Housing, Storage, and Display, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), Light, Mold, Packing and Transport, Pollutants, Relative Humidity and Temperature, Surveys and Assessments, and Sustainability.

A Practical Guide for Sustainable Climate Control and Lighting in Museums and Galleries.

Museums & Galleries Queensland.
2014 – Sydney: International Conservation Services and Steensen Varming.

While written specifically for Australian museums, this online publication offers an excellent guide on environmental management in museum and similar institutions. What is particularly interesting is that it clearly represents the new approaches and current thinking in terms of managing museum environments, while taking into consideration factors related to sustainability, costs, and invasiveness of control equipment, particularly as it relates to its impact on historical buildings or newly designed structures. Aspects covered include RH/temperature, light, and pollutants. It also offers well explained chapters on sustainable design strategies and matrices suggesting practical implementation strategies to achieve the desired results. In sum, this is not only an excellent summary of the current knowledge on the impact of environmental factors on museum collection, but also a well written practical guide for implementation of the appropriate environment while considering sustainability. (written by Bruno P. Pouliot)

Museums & Galleries Queensland. 2014. A Practical Guide for Sustainable Climate Control and Lighting in Museums and Galleries. Sydney: International Conservation Services and Steensen Varming.

Filter(s): Light, Relative Humidity and Temperature, Environmental Management

Conservation guidelines for museum exhibit cases. Fabric of an exhibition: an interdisciplinary approach: Preprints of a conference: Textile Symposium 97. Ottawa: Canadian Conservation Institute. 83-90.

Raphael, T.J.
1997 – Ottawa: Canadian Conservation Institute. 83-90.

Raphael, T.J. 1997. Conservation guidelines for museum exhibit cases. Fabric of an exhibition: an interdisciplinary approach: Preprints of a conference: Textile Symposium 97. Ottawa: Canadian Conservation Institute. 83-90.

Filter(s): Housing, Storage, and Display, Relative Humidity and Temperature, Environmental Management

Some thoughts on the recent CAL press release on climate control for cultural institutions.

Real, W.
1994 – Abbey Newsletter 18(7):85-86.

Real, W. 1994. Some thoughts on the recent CAL press release on climate control for cultural institutions. Abbey Newsletter 18(7):85-86.

Filter(s): Relative Humidity and Temperature, Environmental Management

New Tools for Preservation: Assessing Long-term Environmental Effects on Library and Archives Collections.

Reilly, J., D.W. Nishimura, and E. Zinn.
1995 – Washington, D.C.: Commission on Preservation and Access.

Reilly, J., D.W. Nishimura, and E. Zinn. 1995. New Tools for Preservation: Assessing Long-term Environmental Effects on Library and Archives Collections. Washington, D.C.: Commission on Preservation and Access.

Filter(s): Relative Humidity and Temperature, Environmental Management

Real-time monitoring and dimensional change in Australian Aboriginal bark paintings during storage. ICOM Committee for Conservation. Preprints of the 13th Triennial Meeting.

Smith, N., and K. Roth.
2002 – Rio de Janeiro. II:696-700.

This article demonstrates the extreme sensitivity of Australian bark paintings (and consequently of other similar items made of the same material) to RH fluctuations. (provided by Bruno P. Pouliot)

Smith, N., and K. Roth. 2002. Real-time monitoring and dimensional change in Australian Aboriginal bark paintings during storage. ICOM Committee for Conservation. Preprints of the 13th Triennial Meeting. Rio de Janeiro. II:696-700.

Filter(s): Relative Humidity and Temperature, Environmental Management

The Museum Environment. (2nd edition)

Thomson, G.
1986 – London: Butterworths.

Thomson, G. 1986 (2nd edition). The Museum Environment. London: Butterworths.

Filter(s): Relative Humidity and Temperature, Environmental Management