Ivy Strickler wrote:

>Re the discussion of freezing and D. Gutenkanst's response:

The name is GUTENKAUF, and I am a curator (not a conservator) I work with an
institutional budget of $2000/yr for conservation.

>We are all under serious budget constraints and can only afford
>conservatorial treatment for the most specialized situations. I can't
>expect to phone a conservator and ask for free information when that is how
>the person makes his or her living, any more than I could call a
>development consultant and ask how we can do some fundraising.

Every conservator I have ever worked with has been more than happy to refer me
to appropriate publications and resources or has offered useful suggestions for
treatment of objects. Especially appropriate ones for an institution on a
limited budget.  What they haven't done is guess at treatments based on half
remembered "something I read once, but I'm not sure how it goes."

>I can't tell you how much I rely on the information in this list (as well as
recommended
>books) to help me fill in the gaps in my knowledge, not to mention budget.
>We are attempting to manage a university museum of some 7000 objects,
...snip...

We should all be able to rely on the list for appropriate information.
Unfortunately infotmation posted to the list tends to be of the "well meaning
but less than helpful" variety. I was cautioning those "I think I read
somewhere" postings that are not based in fact. Please-post accurate, cited,
information if it is available to you. Otherwise, quit guessing.

> If I had an insect problem, I'd probably ask the list too, because
professional fumigation is out of my >league.

If professional fumigation under the guidance of a conservator so trained is
unavailable to you, I certainly hope you refrain from doing it yourself! Far
better to isolate the object than to poison yourself, your staff, your
successors, your object, etc.

Gutenkauf
 ***************
My opinions are my own and not those of any organization with which I am
affiliated.