My colleague, David Michael, opened his recent blog on accountancy with a reference to Blur. My challenge is to beat this by linking Collection Care to arctophiles, Massive Attack and Scotland (but not necessarily in that order!).
Andrew Green, NLW and Linda Tomos, CyMAL,introducing the conference
The Library recently held a conference on Sharing Conservation Decisions. The inspiration for the conference was provided by our picture conservator, Jenny Williamson, who had attended a conference on a similar theme hosted by ICCROM. The conference was supported by CyMAL, ICON, the School of Art, Aberystwyth and the Library and it attracted an international audience. One of the main themes of the conference was that of assessing significance in order to inform conservation decisions.
Value and significance are complex, multi-layered concepts. As an arctophile (teddy bear collector) all my bears are valuable to me. However, I have a Steiff bear which was created by the famous German toy company at the beginning of the last century. I inherited it from a great aunt and it has an emotional value for me, as well as an historical significance. As the bear was slightly damaged, I sent it to a specialist to undergo conservation treatment. Other bears, although damaged, have not had the same treatment!
Although that was a somewhat trivial example, significance and value are intrinsic to making conservation decisions. In the resource reduced context in which we operate, we have to prioritise resources and make sustainable conservation decisions. We do this through the drawing up of an annual plan which lists the conservation treatment and preventative conservation priorities for the year.
This plan is based upon an assessment of the condition of the items, their significance and the needs of the user. One of the items on the list for this year is the re-binding of Thomas Pennant’s Tour in Scotland. The works of this great Welsh antiquarian are extremely significant for the wealth of information they provide on a vast range of subjects.
The criteria for assessing significance is complex, but the articulation of a framework for prioritisation will enable decisions to be made in an accountable, effective and sustainable manner and ensure, according to Massive Attack, the protection of the national heritage!