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Alexander Architectural Archive Tour

Here are pictures Todd Kosmerick, senior ARRT co-chair, took during our August 12, 2009 visit to the Alexander Architectural Archive at the University of Texas-Austin. Our great thanks to Beth Dodd, the archive's curator, for allowing us to visit the university's beautiful archive in a 'behind the scenes' tour during this year's SAA conference in Austin.


Quarantine room.
 		     
Storage in quarantine room.
 

Rolled drawing storage units over flat files.
 		     
More rolled and flat storage.
 

Rolled material storage constructed of a low emission composite board coated with several layers of a water-bourne polyurethane to limit off-gassing. See "Rolled Storage Cubby" under the Archive's Preservation Administration web area for more information.
 		     
Freezer.
 

Storage of exhibit panels.
 		     

Mobile representing journals to which the Architecture and Planning Library subscribes.
 

Processing space.
 		     
Example of closed stacks for archive and special collections of published material in
the library.

Unprocessed rolled material in closed stacks. Notice the blue board that spans an aisle to provide a structural bridge between two shelf ranges.
 		     
More rolled drawings in stacks.
 

Storage for oversized flat supplies, such as
folders or blue board.
 
 		     
Special collections folio storage located in a closed stack. Materials are paged by staff trained in handling and monitoring use.
 

Special collections viewing table near the library's circulation desk. Users must read a special collections use & handling policy before viewing. Staff monitor use, and provide pillows or cradles to support the books.
 		       
Reading room for Architecture and Planning Library.

Reference desk.
 		     
Artifact storage (containers).
 

Artifact storage (containers).
 		     
Artifact storage (shelving).
 


Secure caged area for unprocessed archival materials.
 		     
Elevator.
 

Pig Sock spill pillows (aka "Snakes") as a barrier to potential water leaks at door threshold.		     
Collections displayed for the tour.
 

More collection display for the tour (flat file drawer contents covered by mylar).		     


Art cart for moving exhibit panels. See "Art Cart" under the Archive's Preservation Administration web area for more information.
 

More flat file display for tour.