2024 Core Forum

Recent research in the cultural heritage conservation field has identified arsenic and other toxic heavy metals in pigments used in 19th century book bindings. How hazardous are these materials, and what should libraries do if they have 19th C. items in their collections? This presentation will provide background information on this growing field of interest, and a broad overview of some of the research to date. We will also provide a case study of the ongoing research project at the [UNIVERSITY] Library, testing for the presence of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, mercury, and lead in pigments used to color bookcloth and paper. We will describe our planning process, communication plans, the current state of our findings, what we've learned so far, and outstanding questions. Not every library has the staff or funding to undertake a large-scale research project, so we will also provide tips to identify potentially problematic pigments, as well as things to consider when handling or providing access to these materials.