Book Conservation and Digitization : The Challenges of Dialogue and Collaboration
Arc Humanities Press
2020
EISBN 9781641890540
Part One. Books as Objects and Their Digitization.
Chapter 1. Understanding the Artifactual Value of Books.
The Book as a Black Box.
The Faceted Concept of the Artifactual Value of Books.
The Physical Preservation of Books.
The Concept of Intrinsic Value of Documents.
The Qualities of Value.
A Two-Level Value System for Primary Sources in Library and Archive Collections.
A Framework for the Study of the Book as an Object.
A Delicate Balance of Meaning and Use.
Chapter 2. Conservation and Digitization: A Difficult Balance?.
Losing Evidence.
Evidence as Tangible Information beyond Texts.
Modern Book Conservation and the Safeguard of Evidence.
Conservation for Digitization.
Digitization for Conservation.
Transferring Untransferable Features.
Part Two. Conservation and Digitization in Practice.
Chapter 3. Conservation towards Large-Scale Digitization at the Vatican Library.
A Pharaonic Endeavour: The Complete Digitization of the Manuscript Holdings.
A Healthy Balance between Preservation and Use.
The Digitization Process.
Digitization for the Common Advantage of Scholars.
Chapter 4. Large-Scale Digitization at The National Archives.
Surrogate Production and Data Creation.
Building Relationships between Conservation and the Digitization Team.
Conservation for Digitization.
Guidelines and "Flag-Up" Approach.
Conservation Methodology.
Condition Assessment.
A Successful Model.
Chapter 5. British Library/Qatar Foundation Partnership and the Digitization Project: A Case Study about Conservation Processes Within Mass Digitalization of Library Material.
The Planning Phases.
The Project's Workflow.
Location.
Assessed by Date / Shelfmark.
IOR Neg.
Housing.
Label.
Binding Status.
Binding Style.
Covering Material.
Fastening.
Substrate.
Media.
Approximate Dimension.
Foldout Capture / Number of Foldout / Foldout Dimension.
Map Flattening Required.
Maximum Opening Angle.
Treatment Needed.
Damage / Treatment.
Estimated Time.
Conservation Notes.
Object Status.
Treated by / Treatments Date / Treatment Time.
Conservation Emergency.
Pre-Return Assessment.
Conclusions.
Chapter 6. The Digitization of Medieval Western Manuscripts at Wellcome Collection.
Curatorial Context.
Digitization Workflow.
The Pre-Digitization Survey.
Post-Digitization Preservation and Conservation Work.
Long-Term Preservation Program.
Conservation Treatment Program.
Research Potential.
Conclusions.
Acknowledgements.
Chapter 7. Caring for the Object during Digitization of Written Heritage: The Strategy of the Herzog August Library Wolfenbuttel.
Lessons from the Past: New Specifications.
Development of Suitable Imaging Techniques.
Assessing the Feasibility for Digitization.
Technical Limits and Conservation Criteria in Digitization.
Maximum Opening Angle.
Hollow or Tight Back, Bands, and Joints.
Information Loss on Narrow Gutters or Wavy Bookblock.
Tooled Titles and Metal-Leaf Tooling.
Fastenings.
Inks and Colours.
Extra Large Dimensions.
Microbial Contamination.
Ink Corrosion, Acidic Paper.
Database Entry.
Facts and Figures.
Chapter 8. The Great Parchment Book Project.
Historical Background.
Physical Condition of the Great Parchment Book.
The Great Parchment Book Project.
Conclusions.
Chapter 9. The Development of the Language of Bindings Thesaurus.
LoB Workshops.
Cultural Heritage Documentation.
Free-Text and Structured Records in a Collection.
CIDOC-CRM and Integration across Different Collections.
Semantic Web and SKOS.
Categorical Description.
Development of LoB Hierarchies.
Top Concepts.
Hierarchies.
LoB Records.
URIs and Linked Open Data.
Example of a Thesaurus Entry.
Future Work.
Examples of Use.
Translation.
Editorial Control.
Acknowledgements.
Chapter 10. Spectral Imaging to Aid Preservation and Conservation of Cultural Heritage.
Conservation Spectral Imaging in Action.
Spectral Imaging Utilized for Conservation Purposes.
Summary.
Chapter 11. Multispectral Imaging for Special Collection Materials.
The Archimedes Palimpsest at the Walters Art Museum.
Sinai Palimpsests in St. Catherine's Monastery.
The Syriac Galen Palimpsest at the Vatican Apostolic Library.
Conservation's Impact on Multispectral Imaging.
Part Three. Conservators and Digitization Experts in Dialogue.
Chapter 12. The Digitization of Manuscripts from the Point of View of a Book Conservator.
Initiating the Manuscript Digitization Program.
Successive Manuscript Digitization Projects.
The Examination and Treatment of Manuscripts before Digitization.
Incorporating Technical Information in the Online Catalogue.
The Training of Conservators for Digitization Projects.
Looking Forward to the Future of Digitization.
Chapter 13. Implementing Advanced Digital Imaging Research in Cultural Heritage: Building Relationships between Conservators and Computational Imaging Scientists.
Digital Imaging and Cultural Heritage: A Personal Journey.
Advanced Digitization and Conservation.
Case Study 1: The Great Parchment Book.
Case Study 2: Best Practice in Multispectral Imaging.
Encouraging Interdisciplinary Dialogue.
Conclusion.
Chapter 14. Coda: Concluding Thoughts on Digital Surrogates.
Back matter.
Bibliography.
Index.
By surveying a variety of projects and approaches to the difficult conservation-digitization balance, and in fostering a dialogue amongst practitioners, this book demonstrates that a dialogue between the fields of book conservation and digital humanities is not only possible, but in fact desirable and fruitful.
Chapter 1. Understanding the Artifactual Value of Books.
The Book as a Black Box.
The Faceted Concept of the Artifactual Value of Books.
The Physical Preservation of Books.
The Concept of Intrinsic Value of Documents.
The Qualities of Value.
A Two-Level Value System for Primary Sources in Library and Archive Collections.
A Framework for the Study of the Book as an Object.
A Delicate Balance of Meaning and Use.
Chapter 2. Conservation and Digitization: A Difficult Balance?.
Losing Evidence.
Evidence as Tangible Information beyond Texts.
Modern Book Conservation and the Safeguard of Evidence.
Conservation for Digitization.
Digitization for Conservation.
Transferring Untransferable Features.
Part Two. Conservation and Digitization in Practice.
Chapter 3. Conservation towards Large-Scale Digitization at the Vatican Library.
A Pharaonic Endeavour: The Complete Digitization of the Manuscript Holdings.
A Healthy Balance between Preservation and Use.
The Digitization Process.
Digitization for the Common Advantage of Scholars.
Chapter 4. Large-Scale Digitization at The National Archives.
Surrogate Production and Data Creation.
Building Relationships between Conservation and the Digitization Team.
Conservation for Digitization.
Guidelines and "Flag-Up" Approach.
Conservation Methodology.
Condition Assessment.
A Successful Model.
Chapter 5. British Library/Qatar Foundation Partnership and the Digitization Project: A Case Study about Conservation Processes Within Mass Digitalization of Library Material.
The Planning Phases.
The Project's Workflow.
Location.
Assessed by Date / Shelfmark.
IOR Neg.
Housing.
Label.
Binding Status.
Binding Style.
Covering Material.
Fastening.
Substrate.
Media.
Approximate Dimension.
Foldout Capture / Number of Foldout / Foldout Dimension.
Map Flattening Required.
Maximum Opening Angle.
Treatment Needed.
Damage / Treatment.
Estimated Time.
Conservation Notes.
Object Status.
Treated by / Treatments Date / Treatment Time.
Conservation Emergency.
Pre-Return Assessment.
Conclusions.
Chapter 6. The Digitization of Medieval Western Manuscripts at Wellcome Collection.
Curatorial Context.
Digitization Workflow.
The Pre-Digitization Survey.
Post-Digitization Preservation and Conservation Work.
Long-Term Preservation Program.
Conservation Treatment Program.
Research Potential.
Conclusions.
Acknowledgements.
Chapter 7. Caring for the Object during Digitization of Written Heritage: The Strategy of the Herzog August Library Wolfenbuttel.
Lessons from the Past: New Specifications.
Development of Suitable Imaging Techniques.
Assessing the Feasibility for Digitization.
Technical Limits and Conservation Criteria in Digitization.
Maximum Opening Angle.
Hollow or Tight Back, Bands, and Joints.
Information Loss on Narrow Gutters or Wavy Bookblock.
Tooled Titles and Metal-Leaf Tooling.
Fastenings.
Inks and Colours.
Extra Large Dimensions.
Microbial Contamination.
Ink Corrosion, Acidic Paper.
Database Entry.
Facts and Figures.
Chapter 8. The Great Parchment Book Project.
Historical Background.
Physical Condition of the Great Parchment Book.
The Great Parchment Book Project.
Conclusions.
Chapter 9. The Development of the Language of Bindings Thesaurus.
LoB Workshops.
Cultural Heritage Documentation.
Free-Text and Structured Records in a Collection.
CIDOC-CRM and Integration across Different Collections.
Semantic Web and SKOS.
Categorical Description.
Development of LoB Hierarchies.
Top Concepts.
Hierarchies.
LoB Records.
URIs and Linked Open Data.
Example of a Thesaurus Entry.
Future Work.
Examples of Use.
Translation.
Editorial Control.
Acknowledgements.
Chapter 10. Spectral Imaging to Aid Preservation and Conservation of Cultural Heritage.
Conservation Spectral Imaging in Action.
Spectral Imaging Utilized for Conservation Purposes.
Summary.
Chapter 11. Multispectral Imaging for Special Collection Materials.
The Archimedes Palimpsest at the Walters Art Museum.
Sinai Palimpsests in St. Catherine's Monastery.
The Syriac Galen Palimpsest at the Vatican Apostolic Library.
Conservation's Impact on Multispectral Imaging.
Part Three. Conservators and Digitization Experts in Dialogue.
Chapter 12. The Digitization of Manuscripts from the Point of View of a Book Conservator.
Initiating the Manuscript Digitization Program.
Successive Manuscript Digitization Projects.
The Examination and Treatment of Manuscripts before Digitization.
Incorporating Technical Information in the Online Catalogue.
The Training of Conservators for Digitization Projects.
Looking Forward to the Future of Digitization.
Chapter 13. Implementing Advanced Digital Imaging Research in Cultural Heritage: Building Relationships between Conservators and Computational Imaging Scientists.
Digital Imaging and Cultural Heritage: A Personal Journey.
Advanced Digitization and Conservation.
Case Study 1: The Great Parchment Book.
Case Study 2: Best Practice in Multispectral Imaging.
Encouraging Interdisciplinary Dialogue.
Conclusion.
Chapter 14. Coda: Concluding Thoughts on Digital Surrogates.
Back matter.
Bibliography.
Index.
By surveying a variety of projects and approaches to the difficult conservation-digitization balance, and in fostering a dialogue amongst practitioners, this book demonstrates that a dialogue between the fields of book conservation and digital humanities is not only possible, but in fact desirable and fruitful.
