Finishing A Three-Year Long Project: Priceless!

Long time readers will remember that almost three years ago we embarked on a project to rehouse our papyri collection. It began with an idea and a prototype in 2010. When the renovation project was announced, we had to begin in earnest. That was in February 2012. This week we labeled the boxes and I’m calling the project done!* You can see more images from this project on Flickr.

This project was particularly interesting for the lab, it was the first real collaborative, large-scale boxing project that we attempted. Everyone in the lab helped with different stages of boxing.

Grace imaged the papyri for the labels

Tedd made the labels

Jennifer managed the supplies

Jennifer cut down pieces of board and Volara foam before boxing day (or we had our students to do it)

Everyone in the lab assembled the packets on boxing day

Jennifer and Beth met with Rubenstein Technical Services and Research Services staff to discuss how we would label the boxes

Jennifer made labels for the new boxes, and she and I put on the new labels this week.

It really was a team effort, and I am so proud of the Conservation staff for getting it done on time and on budget. They look great, and by all accounts Rubenstein staff have used them with great success.

I gave a tip at this year’s AIC Book and Paper Group Tip Session on this project. The presentation, housing instructions and picture label instructions are all available online.

*We have some data clean up to do, but that will be done shortly. “Close enough for conservation,” as my chemistry teacher used to say.