Rare Books Preservation Assessment of the Biblioteca Santiago Iglesias, hijo of the School of Architecture at the UPR

In 2019, the Biblioteca de Arquitectura Santiago Iglesias, hijo, from the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, was awarded a National Endowment for the Humanities’ Preservation Assistance Grant for Smaller Institutions, in order to condition and assess its Rare Books Collection (PG-266702-19).  The library’s purpose of this assessment is to develop a long-term preservation plan “to delineate our conservation needs by developing the proper strategies and actions to meet those needs. In so doing, we will be establishing a much-needed initial framework. This long-term plan will serve as a basic working tool during the coming years. In addition, the plan will justify to the University and funding agencies and foundations our preservation needs. It will also establish a future comprehensive plan for our invaluable collection pieces, many which are not found elsewhere. This activity, beyond attending to our particular needs, will also serve as a working model to other libraries in our Campus.”  (José E. Flores Ramos, 2018). This preservation plan is based on this written assessment report that will include recommendations for proper storage, housing and more important issues to be considered.  For more information:

Condition Assessment of the Rare Books Collection: Final Report, prepared by Viviana van Vliet, Paper Conservator.
Appendix 1-Rare Books General Condition Assessment
Appendix 2-Rare Books General Condition Assessment
Appendix 3-Rare Books General Condition Assessment