Technological Advances in Environmental Management
Effective management of storage environments in cultural institutions is an important aspect of IPI's mission. Our goals are based on strong scientific evidence that heat and moisture are the primary rate-controlling factors in almost every mode of decay. Control of these factors in the storage environment is of fundamental importance in preservation and is more widely effective than other, more limited, preservation actions. It is also much cheaper to implement. We'd like to see institutions use storage conditions as efficiently and effectively as their local climate and existing mechanical systems will allow.
While many factors can be included in a broad concept of storage environment (light, pollution, and vibration, for example) temperature and RH are the most fundamental ones to consider in environmental management. They are always present, they affect the largest number of items in the collection, and they act as enablers (or inhibitors) of damage by other factors such as light and pollutants.
Environmental monitoring has come a long way from weekly collection of hygrothermograph charts, calibration of equipment, and changing of pens and paper. Advancements in datalogger technology now make it possible to electronically gather and view huge amounts of data collected over long periods. Unfortunately, as the technology has advanced, and the amount of data available for review has grown, the time and staff expertise available to do something with the data has diminished.
Through research, testing, and collaborative work with a number of institutions, IPI has developed a new approach to environmental analysis that is best described as a preservation management process. There are three essential elements to this approach:
- UNDERSTAND
- Know why, how, and what to monitor. Bring the knowledge of collections care and facilities staff together.
- EVALUATE
- Use appropriate metrics to quantify and analyze the “preservation quality” of the environment.
- TAKE ACTION
- Develop an institutional action plan based on your definition of the optimal preservation environment.
With funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS), and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, IPI has developed the Preservation Environment Monitor®, a sophisticated data logger specifically designed for environmental monitoring, and Climate Notebook®, associated software, which facilitates the task of environmental interpretation. And, to aid institutions that lack the time and/or staff for data analysis, IPI also offers an Environmental Analysis Service.
