Conservation Services supports the Stanford University Libraries (SUL) through conservation treatment, external exhibit loan preparation, assessments, training, and consultation. We provide services for all branches of SUL who hold special collections, rare and locked stacks materials, reserves, and circulating collections. We work together with colleagues in other services such as Digital Library Systems and Services (DLSS), Metadata, Acquisitions, and Facilities. We collaborate with the Cantor Arts Center, SLAC, and faculty, grad students and individual researchers to provide access to SUL collections, support instruction and research, and enhance scientific discovery.

Program Areas:

• Conservation treatment and enclosures: Conservation staff repair special and general collection materials that are being actively used by Stanford faculty, students and researchers.
• External exhibit program: SUL loans collection materials to museums and galleries locally, nationally and internationally. All materials are reviewed, photographed, given condition reports, housed, and packed for shipment by Conservation Services.
• Collection management/projects: Conservation Services works with branches and Facilities to plan and execute projects for large numbers of materials that require repair, enclosures, and protection in advance of collection moves.
• Assessments, consultation and training: Conservation reviews incoming materials and materials being considered for acquisition into SUL collections for conservation treatment, enclosure, and handling needs. We engage with our colleagues in the Digital Production Group of the DLSS to determine suitability of collection material for imaging and handling.
• Education and outreach: Conservation hosts interns, classes, and tours on a regular basis. We work with Stanford colleagues in academic departments, the Cantor Arts Center, and SLAC on research projects to better understand and make accessible our collections

For information on any of these program areas, please contact Kristen St. John, Head of Conservation Services.