Condition
All items stored in the room were found to be fire-affected. All exposed surfaces were coated in soot, some were stained from chemical foam and one item was partially singed.
The majority of items were paper-based. There were numerous bound books, and a large collection of loose- leaf documents (including musical scores and manuscripts) stored in card folders. There was also a Verbrugghen music stand and several historical photographs.
Treatment
- Transporting all fire affected items from the Conservatorium Library to ICS
- Removing and reducing soot and fire extinguisher foam residue on affected items
- Recording card index information onto a spreadsheet, cross referencing to catalogues and cataloguing all uncatalogued material on an additional spreadsheet
- Replacing damaged auxiliary materials (boxes and folders) and rehousing documents within archival folders
- Carrying out additional conservation treatment and then returning items to the Conservatorium Library or University of Sydney Fisher Library as required
Before treatment
After treatment