IHS’s Conservation Department preserves Indiana history by establishing long-range strategies and treatment methods to preserve and stabilize our collection
The Conservation Lab provides a wide variety of specialized treatments for the William H. Smith Memorial Library’s paper-based collection. Conservators specialize in working with books, maps, manuscripts, graphic works, photographic media and film negatives. Our methods benefit the physical needs of collections, from initial handling and examination, provision of customized housings, general cleaning and stabilization, and comprehensive laboratory treatment. Conservators also work with the IHS Digital Imaging Lab when recommendations for digital conversion of particularly fragile objects are warranted.
In addition to conserving our own collection, we provide outreach services in the form of consultations, site visits, collection assessments and preservation workshops to nonprofit historical societies, museums and special collection libraries through our Historic Document Preservation Program.
Kathy Lechuga
Book Conservator
Stephanie Gowler
Paper Conservator
What to expect when you visit IHS.
Learn MoreFind out what we do in our state-of-the-art facility.
Learn moreWe can point you in the right direction to preserve your own collections.
Learn moreOur conservators can provide consultations.
Learn more