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Insect pests in museums
Musewm Management and Curatorship (i99O), 9,107-l
10
Publications Digest
During the last three decades the number of publications concerned with museums has grown enormously, much of it of a very technical nature and of little immediate interest outside a narrow sector of the museum profession. The Publications Digest is intended to draw attention to publications which directly concern the various functions of museum managers and to others published in often totally different fields which nevertheless potentially have an application in museum management and curatorship. Publications should be included in the Publications Digest as soon as possible after Major contributions becoming available. may be the subject of specially commissioned review articles, and the Editors will be grateful for both suggestions and copies of publications suitable for inclusion in the Publications Digest. Each entry is prefixed by a code number which consists of ‘year of publication, issue number, subject number, digest section number’, in accordance with the schedule of subjects listed below: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. IO. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22.
Administration Archaeology Architecture and Building Management Archives and Libraries Arts technology Bibliographies, Directories and Indexes Cataloguing Catering Collection Management Communication Systems Conservation/Restoration of Collections Cultural Activities and Events Cultural Policy Display and Museum Lighting Documentation Education Services Emergencies Ethics, Acquisitions and Disposals Exhibitions Fakes and Forgeries Friends and Supporters Groups Handling, Packing and Transportation
23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36.
History of Museums Information: Storage Retrieval Insurance Law Marketing Museology and Philosophy Museum Climatology Museums Personnel and Training Publishing Publicity and Public Relations Safety and Security Sociology Storage
1992.1.6.1 Companion to Japanese Britain and Ireland, Bowen Pearse and Christopher bY McCooey. 194 X 104mm, xxxii + 256pp., with black and white and colour illustrations. Brighton, In Print, 1991, 49.95 (ISBN 1 873047 10 X). In Print Publishing Ltd, 9 Beaufort Terrace, Brighton BN2 2SU, UK. than 230 historic sites, Covering more gardens, museums and art galleries connected with Japan, this pocket-sized volume is a mine of information which is often difficult to abstract from other sources. The entries are listed alphabetically by place within fifteen geographic regions, of which Greater London is divided into five. Each entry has been assigned an individual entry number and these are used in the cross-referencing, in the index and in the maps which show for each region the Iocations of the main places listed. Material is already accumulating fast for another edition, but in the meantime Pearse and McCooey have provided a most useful guide, particularly to resources outside the well-known collections. 1992.1.11.1 InsectPests in Museums, 210 x 148mm, 5Zpp.,
by David Pinninger. illustrated in black
108
I”ublications
and white. Denbigh, Archetype Publications, 1990 (ISBN I X73132 10 7). Archetype Pubhcations Ltd, Hall Square, Denbigh, Clwyd, Wales, UK. Insect damage to museum collections has in recent years acquired greater prominence, in part due to the problems posed by the toxicity of the substances used to prevent and control infestation. David Pinninger has provided for the Institute of Archaeology Publications a succinct guide to pest control strategies for museums, based on his regular contributions to the Institute of Archaeology Summer Schools’ courses. From his brief discussion of the variety of insect pests and the damage caused, he provides short accounts of their anatomy, ‘Reproduction and Growth’, and ‘Environment, Temperature, Moisture and Food’, before describing in greater detail representatives of the major pest types. These are grouped together under ‘Pests Which Attack Wool, Fur, Feathers and Textiles’, ‘General Detritus Feeders, Mould Feeders and Scavengers’, ‘Woodborers’, ‘Termites’ and ‘Mites’. The text then passes on to the monitoring of insect activity, the prevention of infestation and its control by physical and chemical methods, including the use of insecticides. The publication concludes with a discussion of pest control strategies for museums and a bibliography. 1992.1.11.2 vude et Ed conservhwz, L’Arche’ologie mecum que’be’cois, by Andre Bergeron and France Remillard. 203 X 127mm, xii -Iillustrated in black and white. 184pp., Quebec, Les Publications du Quebec, 1991 (ISBN 2 551 14758 1). Centre de Conservation du Quebec, 1825 rue Semple, Quebec ClJ 4B7, Canada. Prepared by two leading conservators of the Centre de Conservation du Quebec, this pocket-sized manual was conceived as a compact but systematic guide to conservation techniques able to be used in the field. The procedures described have been assembled with particular regard to the conditions experienced in excavations in Quebec and the physicat state of objects likely to be recovered from &em, but no rules are laid down. Rather the procedures are intended to be
Digest
adaptabte while maintaining good practice. The spirally bound volume opens with a discussion of the nature of the equifibrium reached between the soil and objects buried in it, and this is followed by three sections which describe systematically the different materials, divided into inorganic, organic and composite. For each of these a brief description is given of its composition and characteristics, followed by recommendations as to the precautions to be taken. Section 5 is devoted to techniques developed for the physical recovery of archaeological specimens and evidence, while section 6 covers preventive conservation after excavation, including handling, transport and eventual display. The volume concludes with a short general bibliography and appendices listing sources of materials and analytical laboratories located in Quebec, sampling requirements, a glossary of technical terms and advice on toxic chemicals. As the high proportion of English-language references in the bibliography attests, this Frenchlanguage contribution to the literature of conservation is particularly welcome, 1992.1.11.3 Gilding and Szwf;;lceQecouation; Preprints of the UKIC Conference, Restoration ‘91, edited by Sophie Budden. 298 x 210mm, 4Opp., illustrated in black and white and colour. London, The United Kingdom Institute for Conservation, 1991 (ISBN 1 871656 117). The United Kingdom Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works of Art, 37 Upper Addison Gardens, London W14 SAJ, UK. A vigorous programme of publishing case studies is essential for the continued development of soundly based conservation practice and the United Kingdom Institute for Conservation has in recent years established itself as one of the leading conservation publishers. Although subtitled ‘Preprints of the UKIC Conference Restoration ‘91’, this slim volume of nine papers includes a number which were not presented at that conference but add weight and breadth to the published collection. This opens with Christine Powell’s account of the cfeaning and restoration, at the National Gallery, London,
10
Publications Digest
During the last three decades the number of publications concerned with museums has grown enormously, much of it of a very technical nature and of little immediate interest outside a narrow sector of the museum profession. The Publications Digest is intended to draw attention to publications which directly concern the various functions of museum managers and to others published in often totally different fields which nevertheless potentially have an application in museum management and curatorship. Publications should be included in the Publications Digest as soon as possible after Major contributions becoming available. may be the subject of specially commissioned review articles, and the Editors will be grateful for both suggestions and copies of publications suitable for inclusion in the Publications Digest. Each entry is prefixed by a code number which consists of ‘year of publication, issue number, subject number, digest section number’, in accordance with the schedule of subjects listed below: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. IO. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22.
Administration Archaeology Architecture and Building Management Archives and Libraries Arts technology Bibliographies, Directories and Indexes Cataloguing Catering Collection Management Communication Systems Conservation/Restoration of Collections Cultural Activities and Events Cultural Policy Display and Museum Lighting Documentation Education Services Emergencies Ethics, Acquisitions and Disposals Exhibitions Fakes and Forgeries Friends and Supporters Groups Handling, Packing and Transportation
23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36.
History of Museums Information: Storage Retrieval Insurance Law Marketing Museology and Philosophy Museum Climatology Museums Personnel and Training Publishing Publicity and Public Relations Safety and Security Sociology Storage
1992.1.6.1 Companion to Japanese Britain and Ireland, Bowen Pearse and Christopher bY McCooey. 194 X 104mm, xxxii + 256pp., with black and white and colour illustrations. Brighton, In Print, 1991, 49.95 (ISBN 1 873047 10 X). In Print Publishing Ltd, 9 Beaufort Terrace, Brighton BN2 2SU, UK. than 230 historic sites, Covering more gardens, museums and art galleries connected with Japan, this pocket-sized volume is a mine of information which is often difficult to abstract from other sources. The entries are listed alphabetically by place within fifteen geographic regions, of which Greater London is divided into five. Each entry has been assigned an individual entry number and these are used in the cross-referencing, in the index and in the maps which show for each region the Iocations of the main places listed. Material is already accumulating fast for another edition, but in the meantime Pearse and McCooey have provided a most useful guide, particularly to resources outside the well-known collections. 1992.1.11.1 InsectPests in Museums, 210 x 148mm, 5Zpp.,
by David Pinninger. illustrated in black
108
I”ublications
and white. Denbigh, Archetype Publications, 1990 (ISBN I X73132 10 7). Archetype Pubhcations Ltd, Hall Square, Denbigh, Clwyd, Wales, UK. Insect damage to museum collections has in recent years acquired greater prominence, in part due to the problems posed by the toxicity of the substances used to prevent and control infestation. David Pinninger has provided for the Institute of Archaeology Publications a succinct guide to pest control strategies for museums, based on his regular contributions to the Institute of Archaeology Summer Schools’ courses. From his brief discussion of the variety of insect pests and the damage caused, he provides short accounts of their anatomy, ‘Reproduction and Growth’, and ‘Environment, Temperature, Moisture and Food’, before describing in greater detail representatives of the major pest types. These are grouped together under ‘Pests Which Attack Wool, Fur, Feathers and Textiles’, ‘General Detritus Feeders, Mould Feeders and Scavengers’, ‘Woodborers’, ‘Termites’ and ‘Mites’. The text then passes on to the monitoring of insect activity, the prevention of infestation and its control by physical and chemical methods, including the use of insecticides. The publication concludes with a discussion of pest control strategies for museums and a bibliography. 1992.1.11.2 vude et Ed conservhwz, L’Arche’ologie mecum que’be’cois, by Andre Bergeron and France Remillard. 203 X 127mm, xii -Iillustrated in black and white. 184pp., Quebec, Les Publications du Quebec, 1991 (ISBN 2 551 14758 1). Centre de Conservation du Quebec, 1825 rue Semple, Quebec ClJ 4B7, Canada. Prepared by two leading conservators of the Centre de Conservation du Quebec, this pocket-sized manual was conceived as a compact but systematic guide to conservation techniques able to be used in the field. The procedures described have been assembled with particular regard to the conditions experienced in excavations in Quebec and the physicat state of objects likely to be recovered from &em, but no rules are laid down. Rather the procedures are intended to be
Digest
adaptabte while maintaining good practice. The spirally bound volume opens with a discussion of the nature of the equifibrium reached between the soil and objects buried in it, and this is followed by three sections which describe systematically the different materials, divided into inorganic, organic and composite. For each of these a brief description is given of its composition and characteristics, followed by recommendations as to the precautions to be taken. Section 5 is devoted to techniques developed for the physical recovery of archaeological specimens and evidence, while section 6 covers preventive conservation after excavation, including handling, transport and eventual display. The volume concludes with a short general bibliography and appendices listing sources of materials and analytical laboratories located in Quebec, sampling requirements, a glossary of technical terms and advice on toxic chemicals. As the high proportion of English-language references in the bibliography attests, this Frenchlanguage contribution to the literature of conservation is particularly welcome, 1992.1.11.3 Gilding and Szwf;;lceQecouation; Preprints of the UKIC Conference, Restoration ‘91, edited by Sophie Budden. 298 x 210mm, 4Opp., illustrated in black and white and colour. London, The United Kingdom Institute for Conservation, 1991 (ISBN 1 871656 117). The United Kingdom Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works of Art, 37 Upper Addison Gardens, London W14 SAJ, UK. A vigorous programme of publishing case studies is essential for the continued development of soundly based conservation practice and the United Kingdom Institute for Conservation has in recent years established itself as one of the leading conservation publishers. Although subtitled ‘Preprints of the UKIC Conference Restoration ‘91’, this slim volume of nine papers includes a number which were not presented at that conference but add weight and breadth to the published collection. This opens with Christine Powell’s account of the cfeaning and restoration, at the National Gallery, London,