Methodology and Criteria for the Evaluation of Paper Conservation Interventions: A Literature Review

Abstract

In this paper, we present the results of a literature survey concerning the methodology and criteria used for the evaluation of paper conservation interventions. Important issues that are reviewed include: center dot Accelerated ageing: theoretical principles, most common methods, standards and conditions (temperature and relative humidity). center dot Experimental setup: sample selection and preparation, planning of the experiments. center dot Methods for the evaluation of paper properties: established methods already in use, various methods that have been sparingly used and methods that have never been used but have the potential to evolve and apply to specific problems of the evaluation. center dot Criteria of effectiveness of the intervention. A selection of the most important relevant publications of the last 30 years and the methods yielded by the survey are presented in table format