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In recent years more cultural institutions in hot and humid climates have been installing air-conditioning systems to protect their collections and provide comfort for both employees and visitors. This practice, however, can pose complications, including problems of installation and maintenance as well as structural damage to buildings, while failing to provide collections with a viable conservation environment. Environmental Management for Collections offers hands-on guidance to the specific challenges involved in conserving cultural heritage in hot and humid climates.
Initial chapters present scientific and geographic overviews of these climates, outline risk-based classifications for environmental control, and discuss related issues of human health and comfort. The authors then describe climate management strategies that offer effective and reliable alternatives to conventional air-conditioning systems and that require minimal intervention to the historic fabric of buildings that house collections.
Environmental Management for Collections concludes with seven case studies of successful climate improvement projects undertaken by the Getty Conservation Institute in collaboration with cultural institutions around the world. Appendices include a unit conversion table, a glossary, and a full bibliography. Environmental Management for Collections is an essential tool for cultural heritage conservators and museum curators, as well as other professionals involved in the design, construction, and maintenance of museums and other buildings housing cultural heritage collections in hot and humid climates.
Shin Maekawa is a senior scientist at the Getty Conservation Institute. Vincent L. Beltran is an assistant scientist at the Getty Conservation Institute. Michael C. Henry is a principle at Watson and Henry Associates, in Bridgeton, New Jersey.
