Over the course of 2016, the Folger Shakespeare Library exhibited a First Folio in every state in the United States plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Given the wide variety of institution types, climatic conditions, and levels of experience, the exhibit was designed to be as self contained as possible. This meant that display cases were designed to be the primary front line defense for the Folio, providing for the physical security of the Folio all the way from security alarms to climate conditions. As each venue had a different environment to contend with, the cases were designed to hold an internal RH established by conditioned silica gel with minimal influence expected or desired from outside. To accomplish this, the Folger installed new silica gel with almost every location change, only leaving the last venue's silica gel in the case when the new venue had similar climatic conditions as the old.
With seven total cases traveling, simultaneous exhibits, and tight time frames between deinstalling at the old venue and installing at the new, the Folger stockpiled a rather large quantity of silica gel. Now that the traveling exhibit is complete, the Folger would like to use this silica gel in as sustainable a way as possible and incorporate it into our internal exhibit supply. Given its previous use and varieties of RH, this requires it all be reconditioned to match the summer or winter RHs that we use in our permanent display cases. So, the question becomes how to get this silica gel reconditioned. There is no vendor currently offering these services on a regular basis. As we explore our options, we find ourselves wondering what our colleagues in the field do. So, we've come up with the following questions: 1) how often do other institutions change the silica gel in their exhibit cases? 2) how do other institutions recondition their silica gel? 3) what do other institutions do with silica gel that's been used but they don't plan to recondition? 4) how many institutions would be interested in reconditioning used silica gel if the option existed? We would love to hear from other institutions. Please respond to the list; all private responses will be summarized and sent out to the list as well. With Thanks, Adrienne Bell Book Conservator Folger Shakespeare Library ****** Unsubscribe by sending a message to [email protected] Archives through August 2016 at http://cool.conservation-us.org/byform/mailing-lists/cdl/ Archives from September 2016 onward at https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/
