CCI Notes

CCI Notes deal with topics of interest to those who care for cultural objects. Intended for a broad audience, the Notes offer practical advice about issues and questions related to the care, handling, and storage of cultural objects. Many Notes are illustrated, and provide bibliographies as well as suggestions for contacting suppliers. Written by CCI staff, there are currently over 100 Notes in this ever-expanding series.

Table of Contents

• Care of Collections -- General Guidelines
  • N1/1 General precautions for storage areas (2002) (PDF Version, 1.41 MB) ^*
  • N1/2 Cleaning Glass and Acrylic Display Cases (1996) (PDF Version, 464 KB) ^*
  • N1/3 Closing a Museum for the Winter (1988) (PDF Version, 1.37 MB) ^*
  • N1/4 Making Triwall Containers (1997) (PDF Version, 1.02 MB) ^*
  • N1/6 Time Capsules (1995) (PDF Version, 2.31 MB) ^*
  • N1/7 Mercury in Museum Collections (2002) (PDF Version, 1.26 MB) ^*
  • N1/8 Lead in Museum Collections and Heritage Buildings (2010) (PDF Version, 289 KB) ^*
  • N1/9 Low-Cost Plastic/Aluminum Barrier Foil (2010) (PDF Version, 3.24 MB) ^*
• Preventive Conservation
  • N2/1 Ultraviolet Filters (1994) (PDF Version, 1.07 MB) ^*
  • N2/3 Track Lighting (1992) (PDF Version, 630 KB) ^*
  • N2/4 Environmental Monitoring Kit (1983) (PDF Version, 573 KB) ^*
  • N2/6 Fire Protection Issues for Historic Buildings (1998) (PDF Version, 1.44 MB) ^*
  • N2/7 Museum Fires and Losses (1998) (PDF Version, 1.16 MB) ^*
  • N2/8 Automatic Sprinkler Systems for Museums (1998) (PDF Version, 1.33 MB) ^*
• The Museum Environment: Biological Factors
  • N3/1 Preventing Infestations: Control Strategies and Detection Methods (1996) (PDF Version, 1.69 MB) ^*
  • N3/2 Detecting Infestations: Facility Inspection Procedure and Checklist (1996) (PDF Version, 980 KB) ^*
  • N3/3 Controlling Insect Pests with Low Temperature (1997) (PDF Version, 64 KB) ^*
  • N3/4 Psocids or "Book Lice": a Warning of Dampness (1998) (PDF Version, 596 KB) ^*
• Archaeological and Field Conservation
  • N4/1 Identifying Archaeological Metal (2007) (PDF Version, 161 KB) ^*
  • N4/2 Vacuum Freeze-drying Archaeological Artifacts (2007) (PDF Version, 158 KB) ^*
  • N4/3 Conservation of Wet Faunal Remains: Bone, Antler, and Ivory (2007) (PDF Version, 145 KB) ^*
• Ceramics and Glass
  • N5/1 Care of Ceramics and Glass (2007) (PDF Version, 159 KB) ^*
• Ethnographic Materials
  • N6/1 Care of Ivory, Bone, Horn and Antler (1988) (PDF Version, 934 KB) ^*
  • N6/2 Care of Basketry (1988) (PDF Version, 476 KB) ^*
  • N6/3 Care of Canoes, Kayaks and Umiaks (1989) (PDF Version, 368 KB) ^*
  • N6/4 Care of Objects Decorated with Glass Beads (1994) (PDF Version, 934 KB) ^*
  • N6/5 Care of Quillwork (1991) (PDF Version, 544 KB) ^*
  • N6/7 Totem Poles Displayed Indoors (2008) (PDF Version, 385 KB) ^*
  • N6/8 Totem Poles Displayed Outside (2008) (PDF Version, 379 MB) ^*
• Furniture and Wooden Objects
  • N7/1 Care and Cleaning of Unfinished Wood (2002) (PDF Version, 706 KB) ^*
  • N7/2 Care of Furniture Finishes (2002) (PDF Version, 1.38 MB) ^*
• Leather, Skin, and Fur
  • N8/1 Removing Mould from Leather (1993) (PDF Version, 20 KB) ^*
  • N8/2 Care of Alum, Vegetable, and Mineral Tanned Leather (1992) (PDF Version, 1.59 MB) ^*
  • N8/3 Care of Mounted Specimens and Pelts (1988)
  • N8/4 Care of Rawhide and Semi-Tanned Leather (1992) (PDF Version, 993 KB) ^*
• Metals
  • N9/1 Recognizing Active Corrosion (2007) (PDF Version, 2.01 MB) ^*
  • N9/2 Storage of Metals (2007) (PDF Version, 166 KB) ^*
  • N9/3 The Cleaning, Polishing and Protective Waxing of Brass and Copper (2007) (PDF Version, 163 KB) ^*
  • N9/4 Basic Care of Coins, Medals and Medallic Art (2007) (PDF Version, 161 KB) ^*
  • N9/5 Tannic Acid Treatment (2007) (PDF Version, 178 KB) ^*
  • N9/6 Care and Cleaning of Iron (2007) (PDF Version, 157 KB) ^*
  • N9/7 Silver - Care and Tarnish Removal (2007) (PDF Version, 265 KB) ^*
  • N9/8 Mechanical Removal of Rust from Machined Ferrous Surfaces (2007) (PDF Version, 227 KB) ^*
  • N9/9 Care of Objects Made of Zinc (2007) (PDF Version, 146 KB) ^*
• Paintings and Polychrome Sculptures
  • N10/1 Cleaning Paintings: Precautions (1995) (PDF Version, 480 KB) ^*
  • N10/2 Making Padded Blocks (1995) (PDF Version, 374 KB) ^*
  • N10/3 Storage and Display Guidelines for Paintings (1993) (PDF Version, 1.68 MB) ^*
  • N10/4 Environmental and Display Guidelines for Paintings (1993) (PDF Version, 1.36 MB) ^*
  • N10/5 Emergency Treatment of Water-Damaged Paintings on Canvas (1997) (PDF Version, 1.16 MB) ^*
  • N10/6 Condition Reporting - Paintings. Part I: Introduction (1993) (PDF Version, 1.40 MB) ^*
  • N10/7 Condition Reporting - Paintings. Part II: Examination Techniques and a Checklist (1993) (PDF Version, 1.26 MB) ^*
  • N10/8 Framing a Painting (1993) (PDF Version, 2.22 MB) ^*
  • N10/9 Keying Out of Paintings (1993) (PDF Version, 1.38 MB) ^*
  • N10/10 Backing Boards for Paintings on Canvas (1993) (PDF Version, 1.33 MB) ^*
  • N10/11 Condition Reporting - Paintings. Part III: Glossary of Terms (1994) (PDF Version, 2.48 MB) ^*
  • N10/12 Removing a Painting from its Frame (1993) (PDF Version, 483 KB) ^*
  • N10/13 Basic Handling of Paintings (1993) (PDF Version, 898 KB) ^*
  • N10/14 Care of Paintings on Ivory, Metal, and Glass (1993)
  • N10/15 Paintings: Considerations Prior to Travel (1993) (PDF Version, 1.73 MB) ^*
  • N10/16 Wrapping a Painting (1998) (PDF Version, 1.13 MB) ^*
  • N10/17 Know Your Paintings-Structure, Materials, and Aspects of Deterioration (2002) (PDF Version, 1.73 MB) ^*
• Paper and Books
  • N11/1 Making Protective Enclosures for Books and Paper Artifacts (1996) (PDF Version, 874 KB) ^*
  • N11/2 Storing Works on Paper (1995) (PDF Version, 1.52 MB) ^*
  • N11/3 Glazing Materials for Framing Works on Paper (1996) (PDF Version, 1.37 MB) ^*
  • N11/4 Wheat Starch Paste (1993) (PDF Version, 604 KB) ^*
  • N11/5 Matting Works on Paper (1997) (PDF Version, 1.23 MB) ^*
  • N11/6 Removing Paper Artifacts from Their Frames (1993) (PDF Version, 957 KB) ^*
  • N11/7 Basic Care of Books (1995) (PDF Version, 42 KB) ^*
  • N11/8 Display Methods for Books (1994) (PDF Version, 709 KB) ^*
  • N11/9 Framing Works of Art on Paper (1995) (PDF Version, 1.06 MB) ^*
  • N11/10 Encapsulation (1995) (PDF Version, 1.22 MB) ^*
• Stone and Plaster
  • N12/1 Care of Argillite (2007) (PDF Version, 124 KB) ^*
  • N12/2 Care of Objects Made of Plaster of Paris (2007) (PDF Version, 139 KB) ^*
• Textiles and Fibres
  • N13/1 Textiles and the Environment (2008) (PDF Version, 179 KB) ^*
  • N13/2 Flat Storage for Textiles (2008) (PDF Version, 190 KB) ^*
  • N13/3 Rolled Storage for Textiles (2008) (PDF Version, 287 KB) ^*
  • N13/4 Velcro Support System for Textiles (2008) (PDF Version, 487 KB) ^*
  • N13/5 Hanging Storage for Costumes (2009) (PDF Version, 2.77 MB) ^*
  • N13/6 Mounting Small, Light, Flat Textiles (2009) (PDF Version, 1.37 MB) ^*
  • N13/7 Washing Non-coloured Textiles (2009) (PDF Version, 840 KB) ^*
  • N13/8 Applying Accession Numbers to Textiles (2008) (PDF Version, 377 KB) ^*
  • N13/9 Anionic Detergent (2008) (PDF Version, 114 KB) ^*
  • N13/10 Stitches Used in Textile Conservation (2008) (PDF Version, 3.03 MB) ^*
  • N13/11 Natural Fibres (2008) (PDF Version, 256 KB) ^*
  • N13/12 Storage for Costume Accessories (2009) (PDF Version, 922 KB) ^*
  • N13/13 Commercial Dry Cleaning of Museum Textiles (2008) (PDF Version, 185 KB) ^*
  • N13/14 Testing for Colourfastness (2008) (PDF Version, 148 KB) ^*
  • N13/15 Mould Growth on Textiles (2008) (PDF Version, 189 KB) ^*
  • N13/16 Mechanical Surface Cleaning of Textiles (2010) (PDF Version, 5.42 MB) ^*
  • N13/17 Conservation Framing of Embroideries and Other Flat Textiles (2010) (PDF Version, 5.59 MB) ^*
  • N13/18 The Identification of Natural Fibres (2008) (PDF Version, 673 KB) ^*
• Planning for Disaster Management
  • N14/1 Emergency Preparedness for Cultural Institutions: Introduction (1995) (PDF Version, 761 KB) ^*
  • N14/2 Emergency Preparedness for Cultural Institutions: Identifying and Reducing Hazards (1995) (PDF Version, 1.71 MB) ^*
• Modern Materials and Industrial Collections
  • N15/1 Care of Objects Made from Rubber and Plastic (1997) (PDF Version, 2.37 MB) ^*
  • N15/2 Care of Machinery Artifacts Displayed or Stored Outside (1993) (PDF Version, 2.38 MB) ^*
  • N15/3 Display and Storage of Museum Objects Containing Cellulose Nitrate (1994) (PDF Version, 1.58 MB) ^*
  • N15/4 Indoor Display of Industrial Collections (1998) (PDF Version, 1.49 MB) ^*
  • N15/5 Lubrication for Industrial Collections (2002) (PDF Version, 1.26 MB) ^*
  • N15/6 Trade Literature for Industrial Collections (2002) (PDF Version, 1.18 MB) ^*
  • N15/7 Rubber Components in Industrial Collections (2002) (PDF Version, 1.44 MB) ^*
  • N15/8 Outdoor Storage and Display: Basic Principles (2010) (PDF Version, 2.66 MB) ^*
  • N15/9 Outdoor Storage and Display: Remedial Measures (2010) (PDF Version, 2.67 MB) ^*
• Care of Photographic Materials
  • N16/1 Care of Encased Photographic Images (2007) (PDF Version, 314 KB) ^*
  • N16/2 Care of Black-and-White Photographic Glass Plate Negatives (2007) (PDF Version, 145 KB) ^*
  • N16/3 Care of Black-and-White Photographic Negatives on Film (2007) (PDF Version, 160 KB) ^*
  • N16/4 Care of Black-and-White Photographic Prints (2007) (PDF Version, 164 KB) ^*
  • N16/5 Care of Colour Photographic Materials (2007) (PDF Version, 178 KB) ^*
  • N16/6 Processing contemporary black-and-white photographic films and papers for maximum permanence (2007) (PDF Version, 186 KB) ^*
• Spot Tests in Conservation
  • N17/1 The Beilstein Test: Screening Organic and Polymeric Materials for the Presence of Chlorine, with Examples of Products Tested (1993) (PDF Version, 1.07 MB) ^*
  • N17/2 The Diphenylamine Spot Test for Cellulose Nitrate in Museum Objects (1994) (PDF Version, 740 KB) ^*
• Conservation Equipment
  • N18/3 Construction of a "Soft" Profile Gauge (2007) (PDF Version, 353 KB) ^*
  • N18/4 A Small Backlit Suction Device for Treating Textiles (PDF Version, 3.12 MB) ^*
• Electronic Media
  • N19/1 Longevity of Recordable CDs and DVDs (2010) (PDF Version, 3.60 MB) ^*

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