In the world of cultural heritage, the preservation of art and historical documents is as important as their creation. Leslie Courtois, the sole conservator at the Library of Virginia, is an exemplar of dedication to this mission. With 28 years of experience, she’s seen it all—from the complexities of art conservation to the nuances of archiving historical documents. Recently, Leslie shared her journey and how Conserv’s environmental monitoring system has become an essential tool in her work.
Leslie Courtois, paper conservator at the Library of Virginia
Preserving historical documents in a challenging environment
Working in an archive presents unique challenges, particularly when it comes to environmental control. Leslie is the only conservator at Library of Virginia, a role that encompasses everything from treatment and framing to educating staff and advising the public on preservation.
One of the most significant challenges Leslie faces is maintaining stable environmental conditions in a building that is nearly 30 years old and was constructed with various compromises. “Our building is challenging because… there are a lot of issues with the HVAC system, there are a lot of issues with the building envelope,” Leslie noted. These problems are compounded by Virginia’s climate, which she described as “probably the most variable climate in the country,” with drastic swings in temperature and humidity.
Before adopting Conserv, environmental monitoring at the archives was managed by the facilities department, a setup that was far from ideal.
“They fulfilled their obligation to gather the data, but there was nothing actionable they could do with it in terms of addressing the specific needs of the collections,” Leslie explained. Moreover, collections staff had limited access to the data, which hindered their ability to respond to potential issues.
Modernizing preservation for valuable documents
The turning point came during the pandemic when the need for reliable, remote environmental monitoring became clear. Leslie began exploring options and quickly realized that Conserv was the best fit for their needs. The fact that Conserv’s system didn’t require hardwiring or complex integration with the institution’s existing infrastructure was a significant advantage.
Implementing Conserv was straightforward, and the system has been a success, allowing Leslie to monitor conditions across multiple buildings, including a long-term storage facility that lacks internet access.
Since installing Conserv, Leslie has been able to monitor environmental conditions more effectively, giving her the ability to respond quickly to potential issues. “It’s just great to have that peace of mind,” she said, particularly in a building with such a complex and variable environment.
Preservation in archives is not a passive undertaking
Looking ahead, Leslie is focused on expanding the use of Conserv’s features, including light level monitoring and leak detection. She’s also considering how to educate her colleagues further about the importance of preservation.
“It’s not a passive thing to take care of things,” she emphasized. “There are a lot of active things that you have to do to make sure that things are preserved.”
For other archives and cultural institutions considering an upgrade to their environmental monitoring systems, Leslie wholeheartedly recommends Conserv. “I would absolutely recommend this to colleagues,” she said, citing the system’s ease of use and the critical role it plays in safeguarding the cultural heritage under her care.
Conserv as an essential tool for proactive collections care
Leslie’s experience with Conserv highlights the importance of proactive preservation efforts in archives and libraries. By providing reliable, remote monitoring and comprehensive analytics, Conserv helps institutions like the Library of Virginia ensure that their invaluable collections are preserved for future generations. As Leslie continues her work, Conserv remains an essential tool in her conservation toolkit, helping her navigate the challenges of environmental control in an ever-changing climate.
If you have any questions about environmental monitoring, integrated pest management, or just want to talk about preventative conservation, please reach out to us! Don’t forget to check out our blog or join our community of collections care professionals where you can discuss hot topics, connect with your peers or even take a course to get familiar with the Conserv platform.
