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State Library of Victoria

The State Library of Victoria (SLV) is undergoing redevelopment over the next 5 years. Cool and cold storage of our extensive acetate and nitrate negative collection is in the planning stages. It is proposed that purpose built low temperature stores of 110m2 in total be constructed with an acclimatisation room and dedicated exhaust systems. In order to provide specifications to planning engineers, a literature search of current best practice was carried out. Other institutions in Australia were also surveyed as to their experience and insight. Jane Hinwood, Photographic Conservator at the SLV, presented the paper 'Low Temperature Storage For the State Library of Victoria Redevelopment' (PDF Version, 209K) at the AICCM Symposium 2002 Conservation of Paper Books and Photographic Materials hosted by the SLV in April 2002, which encapsulates research carried out. Papers from this symposium can be found in the Preprints available from AICCM.

The Cellulose Acetate Duplication Project at the SLV began in 1997 following a condition survey of the collections. Identification of nitrate film was done in tandem. Negatives showing visible signs of deterioration or vinegar syndrome were removed from the collection storage area. These negatives were then categorised from 1-5 according to the level of deterioration, in order to determine priority of duplication. The five levels of deterioration were adapted from the method used in 'The Acetate Negative Survey - Final Report' by David Horvath in Topics in Photographic Preservation, Vol 2, 1998, AIC Photographic Materials Group, pp. 25 - 39. Categories 2 - 4 were largely duplicated over a period four years. Category 5 was deemed as suffering advanced deterioration, rendering successful duplication impossible. As further surveys are carried out, the process is repeated, to monitor the condition of the remaining collections.

Film identified as cellulose acetate is progressively being isolated and 1:1 duplicated onto polyester according to its priority. As the film is duplicated the original material is going into cool storage offsite, until our low temperature stores onsite come online.

In addition to ongoing surveys of the existing collections, all potential new acquisitions of flexible based negatives are tested to identify acetate and its condition, which may have some bearing on whether it is to be acquired.

Tests used to identify cellulose acetate film include; examination of edge printing, dating information and notch codes, the Diphenylamine Test, Float Test, and the Burn Test. The IPI A-D Strips are also used to determine the level of deterioration of acetate film once positive identification has been made.

Contact: Jane Hinwood, email: jhinwood@slv.vic.gov.au, Ph (03) 8664 7354

Last updated 23 July 2002


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