Email digest for the Global Conservation Forum (ConsDistList) egroup. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Cleaning glass inside showcases 2. IAP Virtual seminar: Removing Pressure Sensitive Tape from Paper Substrates 3. MSc Dissertation Survey: Disposal policies for Natural History Objects 4. Job Posting: Conservation Technician, Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa, OK 5. RE: Survey Invitation: Large Language Model and Black Crusts in Built Heritage – Your Insights Matter 6. Free Webinars! Newspapers: Challenges and Strategies of Care 7. RE: New UN Report on Israel's "war crimes" of attacking cultural heritage sites in Occupied Palestine ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1.From: Anais Ellis Posted: Monday July 21, 2025 5:37 AM Subject: Cleaning glass inside showcases Message: Hi all, I'm a Project Conservator at the Horniman Museum and Gardens, currently working on the re-display of the Natural History Gallery, and I'm seeking advice on what other institutions use to clean the glass inside showcases. Historically, we've experienced a few instances where a white, crystalline residue forming inside the cases. We think this was likely caused by cleaning products on the glass, possibly applied at the point of showcase production. We're currently considering using microfibre cloths to clean the glass. But in instances of stubborn smears, we are considering IMS/RO water solution to clean the glass. But with the use of alcohol comes the considerations for good ventilation/extraction. We'd be very interested to know what is considered best practice elsewhere. Any recommendations or insights would be greatly appreciated! ------------------------------ Anais Ellis Student University College London London United Kingdom ------------------------------ 2.From: James Black Posted: Monday July 21, 2025 12:18 PM Subject: IAP Virtual seminar: Removing Pressure Sensitive Tape from Paper Substrates Message: Date: Wednesday, 6th August Tutor: Françoise Richard Price: £25 Platform: Zoom Time: London: 7am Berlin: 8am Singapore/Perth: 2pm Sydney: 4pm Auckland: 6pm There will be a 55 minute presentation followed by 15 minutes of discussion. Please register on Eventbrite. <https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1472506840599?aff=oddtdtcreator> Tape removal is a sticky problem for a paper conservator to solve and this presentation is a paper conservator’s approach to the removal of pressure sensitive tape. Every library, archive or museum collection has paper objects repaired with pressure sensitive tape (PST), or self-adhesive tape, that sticks when pressure is applied, without the need for heat or solvent activation. These tapes are ubiquitous and pose substantial problems for the long-term conservation of paper heritage because their synthetic adhesive layer generally degrades with time, leaving stains embedded in the paper. This virtual seminar discusses different and complementary approaches to the design of optimal treatment strategies for removing self-adhesive tape, including recently formulated rigid solvent-gels alongside traditional solvent application methods. Françoise Richard lectures part-time in Conservation and Restoration at the University of Amsterdam and works on a free-lance basis to provide conservation services to Dutch cultural institutions. After graduating in 2005 with a MA in Conservation from Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University, Paris, France, Françoise Richard worked for private and institutional Book and Paper conservation studios in the US (Mellon Fellowship at the CCAHA, Philadelphia), and the UK (Dundee University Library; Fitzwilliam Museum; Cambridge Colleges Conservation Consortium). In 2017, she moved to Amsterdam, Netherlands, where she joined the Rijksmuseum conservation team. In 2020 she started a study on rigid solvent-gel for the treatment of paper. She now lectures part-time in Conservation and Restoration at the University of Amsterdam and works on a free-lance basis to provide conservation services to Dutch cultural institutions. More information: https://academicprojects.co.uk/courses/removing-pressure-sensitive-tape-2/ Registration: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1472506840599?aff=oddtdtcreator ------------------------------ James Black Co-ordinator International Academic Projects London www.academicprojects.co.uk ------------------------------ 3.From: Ali Meek Posted: Monday July 21, 2025 12:18 PM Subject: MSc Dissertation Survey: Disposal policies for Natural History Objects Message: Hi All, I am a student currently completing my MSc in Conservation Practice at Cardiff University. For my dissertation topic, I am looking into the ethics/policies/conditions for disposal of natural history objects. Part of this is understanding the personal opinions of those who have worked with these collections. If you have experience with natural history objects (through work or higher education) please consider completely my survey. It takes approximately 15 minutes and is completely anonymous. The survey is available here: https://forms.office.com/e/rqt4cFph2j <https://forms.office.com/e/rqt4cFph2j> For more information about the project, please read the participant information sheet linked at the start of the survey. Any further questions, please don't hesitate to contact me. Thank you in advance, Ali Meek ------------------------------ Ali Meek MSc Student in Conservation Practice Cardiff University United Kingdom ------------------------------ 4.From: Elly Stewart Davis Posted: Monday July 21, 2025 12:19 PM Subject: Job Posting: Conservation Technician, Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa, OK Message: This position is open for one more week! Position Title: Conservation Technician Closing Date: July 25, 2025 Classification: Hourly, full-time with benefits Salary Range: $19.47-$20.43/hour The Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa, OK is seeking a full-time Conservation Technician to become part of the Conservation Team. This position joins Gilcrease during an exciting time as it prepares to move into a new building that includes a new objects conservation laboratory where the Technician will office. The Conservation Technician participates in a wide range of activities within the Conservation Department, including laboratory administrative duties, lab and storage cleaning, IPM, environmental monitoring, matting and object re-housing, and assisting conservators with exhibition-related tasks. The ideal candidate will have strong hand skills, personal initiative, strong organizational and time management skills, and experience handling art and working in museums. Required documents: Resume and cover letter Optional documents: Samples of work. The hiring committee will review any submissions (submitted as a PDF or link to an online portfolio) with examples of hand skills and related projects (i.e. boxes/enclosures built for museum objects, matting and framing, and/or images of other work that demonstrates the applicant's hand skills). Applicants must apply through the University of Tulsa PeopleAdmin portal. For more information and to apply visit: https://universitytulsa.peopleadmin.com/postings/10804 <https://universitytulsa.peopleadmin.com/postings/10804> ------------------------------ Elly Stewart Davis Assistant Conservator of Objects Gilcrease Museum Tulsa United States ------------------------------ 5.From: Zejiang Pang Posted: Monday July 21, 2025 12:19 PM Subject: RE: Survey Invitation: Large Language Model and Black Crusts in Built Heritage – Your Insights Matter Message: Hello everyone, Just a friendly reminder to please complete the survey, 'Upgrading LLMs' Interpretation of Black Crusts in Built Heritage', if you haven't already. It's a quick one – only 3 questions, taking approximately 2 minutes to complete – and closes on July 25th. Your participation is greatly appreciated and will contribute meaningfully to my MSc dissertation research at UCL. Thank you for supporting my research! Best wishes, Zejiang ------------------------------ Zejiang Pang MSc Student in Heritage Science UCL Institute for Sustainable Heritage London United Kingdom ------------------------------ ------------------------------------------- Original Message: Sent: 07-15-2025 17:08 From: Zejiang Pang Subject: Survey Invitation: Large Language Model and Black Crusts in Built Heritage – Your Insights Matter Dear all, Following up on my earlier post, I am pleased to share a short survey (just three multiple-choice questions) as part of my dissertation at UCL: Upgrading Large Language Models' Interpretation of Black Crusts in Built Heritage. This project explores the potential of AI tools to support image-based understanding of surface deterioration, with a particular focus on black crust formation. The survey is open to all professionals in heritage conservation and science. Whether or not you have used AI tools before, your input is highly valuable. Here is the link to the questionnaire: Microsoft Forms <https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=_oivH5ipW0yTySEKEdmlwnDVrUomuPZPj_i_NNVKib5UN1ZCS0kxRkhUVjdJRDU0VDcxU1MzVUpHMy4u&route=shorturl> Cloudremove previewMicrosoft Forms View this on Cloud > <https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/KEdBRsfrWZ>I have attached the participant information sheet. Many thanks in advance! ------------------------------ Zejiang Pang MSc Student in Heritage Science UCL Institute for Sustainable Heritage London United Kingdom ------------------------------ 6.From: Zoe Voice Posted: Monday July 21, 2025 12:20 PM Subject: Free Webinars! Newspapers: Challenges and Strategies of Care Message: The British Library's Endangered Archives Programme will be hosting a series of four free webinars on newspapers. Targeting custodians of newspaper collections, each webinar will cover a key topic for holistic understanding of these challenging materials and include a live Q&A. You can register your interest for each session using the links below: Newspapers: Manufacture and Characteristics Tuesday 9th September, 14:00-15:30 BST Registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_G3YFjbu1SpuU904n1khfjg <https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_G3YFjbu1SpuU904n1khfjg> The newspaper boom of the 18th and 19th centuries drove production to dizzying heights. This webinar will detail the development of manufacturing processes to produce and print on paper over the industrial revolution, and how these innovations evolved to create a paper product specifically for newspapers: newsprint. Newspapers: Deterioration and Damage Tuesday 16th September, 14:00-15:30 BST Registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_LS2y4rUSTW2yF1W97TCzaQ <https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_LS2y4rUSTW2yF1W97TCzaQ> To better preserve our newspapers, first we must understand how they fall apart. We will learn how some aspects of the historical production of newsprint were especially aggravating for its deterioration, which can be worsened through their storage and handling in the present day. Newspapers: Preventive Conservation Tuesday 23rd September, 14:00-15:30 BST Registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_AyOIDYoKSoSQSG-UQ7j5UQ <https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_AyOIDYoKSoSQSG-UQ7j5UQ> The preservation of newspapers is urgent and challenging for all custodians. This webinar provides a detailed overview of the key tenets of preservation for newspaper collections, including practical advice on where to begin for all. Newspapers: Remedial Conservation Tuesday 30th September, 14:00-15:30 BST Registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_PFy9d40wTuOTW45edgWXMQ <https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_PFy9d40wTuOTW45edgWXMQ> Custodians and conservators have long battled to stabilise newspapers. This webinar details key examples of conservation techniques, past and present, to better identify and understand the motivations behind different treatment options. ------------------------------ Zoe Voice Conservation Training Manager The British Library London, UK ------------------------------ 7.From: Alexandros Koukos Posted: Monday July 21, 2025 12:20 PM Subject: RE: New UN Report on Israel's "war crimes" of attacking cultural heritage sites in Occupied Palestine Message: Hello Aisha, Thank you for the links and the very important information about the systematic destruction of the cultural heritage in Palestine by Israel. The Israelis have been trying for the last 100 years to demolish, distort, and make disappear monuments, archaeological sites, historic buildings, cemeteries, libraries and books, and even landscapes in their attempt to erase the Palestinian culture and historic memory. They know that by just committing GENOCIDE, impose the system of APARTHEID, humiliate and dehumanize the Palestinians ( which are deplorable and heinous crimes in their own right), is not enough to eradicate them and steal their land. Please, do keep us updated. Many thanks Alex ------------------------------ Alexandros Koukos Photography Conservator The National Trust Rotherham United Kingdom ------------------------------ ------------------------------------------- Original Message: Sent: 07-18-2025 16:57 From: Aisha Wahab Subject: New UN Report on Israel's "war crimes" of attacking cultural heritage sites in Occupied Palestine For those that missed it and as it was not mentioned in our latest AIC Cultural Heritage Bulletin, last month, the UN published a report stating that Israel's attacks on cultural heritage sites along with educational and religious sites in Occupied Palestine amount to war crimes and the crime against humanity of extermination. The Art Newspaper has an article following up on this UN report. https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/06/israeli-attacks-educational-religious-and-cultural-sites-occupied <https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/06/israeli-attacks-educational-religious-and-cultural-sites-occupied> https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/06/17/israeli-attacks-on-palestinian-heritage-amount-to-war-crimes-un-report-finds <https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/06/17/israeli-attacks-on-palestinian-heritage-amount-to-war-crimes-un-report-finds> As cultural heritage professionals we should continue to care about all human beings-even if they are brown and Arab-and the destruction of cultural heritage, staying informed and engaged. This is ongoing deliberate cultural heritage destruction in the midst of a human genocide. Just last week Israeli settlers set fire to the ancient Palestinian Christian village of Taybeh including the 5th-century Church of St. George. https://www.timesofisrael.com/top-church-leaders-accuse-israeli-authorities-of-abetting-settler-attacks-in-taybeh/ <https://www.timesofisrael.com/top-church-leaders-accuse-israeli-authorities-of-abetting-settler-attacks-in-taybeh/> Additionally, for the American audience we should continue to care and stay informed as these crimes are supported and paid for by our tax dollars with $17.9 billion of military aid in one year from 2023-2024 being sent to Israel, and $4 billion in military recently approved in March in addition to the usual $3.4 billion annually sent from the US to Israel. United States funding for Israel's assault on Gaza comes while our professional community directly suffers the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars (annually) of NEA and IMLS funding. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/u-s-military-aid-for-israel-tops-17-9-billion-since-last-oct-7#:~:text=Record%20military%20aid%20to%20Israel,shipped%20Israel%20since%20last%20Oct. <https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/u-s-military-aid-for-israel-tops-17-9-billion-since-last-oct-7#:~:text=Record%20military%20aid%20to%20Israel,shipped%20Israel%20since%20last%20Oct.> https://www.cfr.org/article/us-aid-israel-four-charts <https://www.cfr.org/article/us-aid-israel-four-charts> https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/news-wrap-rubio-expedites-delivery-of-4-billion-in-military-aid-to-israel <https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/news-wrap-rubio-expedites-delivery-of-4-billion-in-military-aid-to-israel> ------------------------------ Aisha Wahab (she/her) Paper Conservator Stanford Libraries ------------------------------ You are subscribed to "Global Conservation Forum (ConsDistList)" as [email protected]. To change your subscriptions, go to http://community.culturalheritage.org/preferences?section=Subscriptions. To unsubscribe from this community discussion, go to https://community.culturalheritage.org/HigherLogic/eGroups/Unsubscribe.aspx?UserKey=d16eaa87-0f69-494b-9f2f-303dbc1222e1&sKey=fab9aa4f27a04c5d876e&GroupKey=757a8f16-505f-4323-8e74-e376757aa9f7.
