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Archival marking and methods

1. Archival marking and methods

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Christina Lillpopp

Posted 11-10-2020 10:25

Good day all,
We are considering applying a institutional ownership marking on our library items but I am looking for advice, comments from anyone who has ever done this at their institution.

I see that there are various ways to go with this and we seem to be leaning toward ink stamping. Library of Congress has a resource online describing ink and the stamp and the application process, but I would love to hear from someone who has actually done this.

Many thanks in advance,

Christina Lillpopp

Christina Lillpopp

Collections Manager

phone: 518-822-1875 ext.14

email: christina@fasnyfiremuseum.com

117 Harry Howard Ave.

Hudson, NY 12534

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2. RE: Archival marking and methods

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Vernon Weckbacher

Posted 11-12-2020 17:26

We use an ink stamp. Our non-circulating library collection is available for staff and public use, and, as such, is not archival. Any rare/valuable/unique items are housed with archives and aren't irreversibly marked.

Vernon G. Weckbacher

Archivist/Curator

Mission Historical Museum

900 Doherty

Mission, TX, 78572

956-580-8646

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3. RE: Archival marking and methods

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Jason Skoog

Posted 11-13-2020 15:52

Christina, are these books that are not considered part of the archives?

I work at a university archives housed in a library, and also handle the serials department. We don't mark any of the materials in the archives, but we stamp serials as they are housed in the library.

We haven't done this yet, but we may write identifying information like call numbers on the backside of photographs using a soft pencil.

For objects, you could use identification tags like this. You can gently tie them to some objects so you are not permanently marking them.

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Jason Skoog
Archives and Systems Librarian
Viterbo University
La Crosse WI
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4. RE: Archival marking and methods

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Margaret Geiss-Mooney

Posted 11-13-2020 18:32

Quick suggestion: round off those corners on those manila/cardstock tags as they are very 'pointy' and could gouge or tear your object.

If your cardstock tags come with a coloured thread/string, replace that thread/string with a piece of white/undyed embroidery floss instead. I have found those coloured threads/strings NOT to be colourfast and bleed if they get wet/damp.

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Margaret Geiss-Mooney
Costume/Textile Conservator in Private Practice
Petaluma CA
(707) 763-8694
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5. RE: Archival marking and methods

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Christina Lillpopp

Posted 11-13-2020 18:33

Let me clarify. We are looking to mark only books in our Museum library with an institutional stamp, so that in the event that items are stolen, that they can be traced back to us.

These items are already labeled with their accession numbers. I was just looking for feedback from anyone that may have done this in their own museum library.

Thank you,