Library of Congress Preservation Directorate

Address:  Madison Building, LMG-38 (Blue Corridor)
101 Independence Ave., SE
Washington, DC 20540
(Capitol South subway stop)

When:  August 10, 10:00 a.m.; 1:30 p.m.; 3:00 p.m.

Details: Tour; 15 people per group (total of 45); pre-registration required

About:  This tour provides an overview of a full range of services undertaken by the LC Preservation Directorate, with special focus on its Conservation and Research Divisions’ dozen scientists and 47 conservation technicians and conservators who protect the Library’s 144 million items including 66 million manuscripts and 14 million photographs. Services include evaluations and condition assessments, custom housing, treatments, preparations so the collections may be moved to offsite high density storage, stabilization for exhibits and for digitization, emergency salvage and recovery, building specification analysis, and research. Visitors will see hands-on treatments of rare collections items, problem solving, and many significant preventive actions from monitoring and analyzing Library storage and exhibit environments to the steps involved in planning building renovations and new buildings. Visitors will also view the Library’s new Collections Recovery Room, used to recover items that have experienced collections emergencies such as leaks or mold, as well as the Library's new science laboratories.

Contact:  Diane Vogt-O’Connor, www.loc.gov/preserv