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PRESERVATION

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Richard Feinberg, Head
Frank Melville Jr. Memorial Library W-2550
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY 11794-3319
631.632.9960 (t), 631.632.7116 (f)

The Preservation Department ensures that library materials (books, videos, newspapers, maps, manuscripts, etc.) last as long as possible. For instance, if a book comes out of its cover, the Preservation Dept. fixes it in accordance with approved preservation practice. If a collection of manuscripts is becoming brittle because it is housed where the humidity is too low, then better housing conditions are found or created.

A Preservation Technician repairs materials, especially books, periodicals, and single sheet items. The Preservation Administrator oversees the operations of the department and manages the expenditure of a grant of $126,000 which is received each year from the New York State Education Department.

The day to day operations of the department include:
—Repair of books and other paper material, or sending very damaged materials to commercial specialists such as binders and conservators.
—Making sure the environment is not damaging to materials (e.g., monitoring for appropriate temperature, humidity, air quality, light)
—Encouraging proper storage and shelving practices, including the cleaning of collections.
—Reformatting deteriorated materials (e.g., preservation photocopying or microfilming a book whose pages are crumbling with age).
—Maintaining a written disaster plan / emergency manual and coordinating teams for rescuing materials caught in a flood or fire, and developing strategies for preventing emergencies and disasters.

Preservation Staff

Feinberg, Richie Head	richard.feinberg@stonybrook.edu 631.632.9960, 631.632.9955 (t), 631.632.7116 (f)
Castronuovo, Josephine Preservation Technician	josephine.castronuovo@stonybrook.edu 631.632.7109 (t), 631.632.1375 (f)

Stony Brook University Libraries
Frank Melville Jr. Memorial Library, Stony Brook, NY 11794-3300
631.632.7100 (t), 631.632.7116 (fax)

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Copyright 2003. Last Update: September 2003