Making settler colonialism concrete: agentive materialism and habitational violence in Palestine

ABSTRACT

Through home sealing in Palestine, the Israeli state utilizes the agentive materialism and political valence of concrete as settler colonial state building tools. By rendering the home uninhabitable, the walls of the home are transformed into border walls, while the sealed home rhetorically functions as a relic of collective punishment. Home sealing is an expression of the Israeli state's permanent anxiety surrounding Palestinian compositional power. This essay demonstrates the urgency for approaching settler-colonial state logics through a lens rooted in decolonial approaches to materialist rhetoric and rhetorical studies of space and place.     

Do-It-Yourself Assessment

Abstract

Libraries have walls. Recognizing this fact, the Interlibrary Loan Department at Virginia Tech is creating systems and services that enable our customers to reach past our walls at anytime from any where. Customer in-reach enables Virginia Tech faculty, students, and staff anywhere in the world to obtain information and services heretofore available only to our on-campus customers. ILLiad, Virginia Tech's interlibrary borrowing system, is the library strategic system that attains this goal. The principles that guided development of ILLiad are widely applicable.     

New Method for Historic Rammed-earth Wall Characterization: The Almohade Ramparts of Malaga and Seville

ABSTRACT

The goal of this research is to propose a new method of characterizing rammed-earth walls. Based on their historic building materials properties, five broad test groups were established for the characterization: chemical and mineralogical composition, physical properties, mechanical properties, particle size distribution, and dating. These determinations can, in turn, be grouped into two different types: instrumental techniques such as XRF, XRD, and SEM-EDX, as well as adaptations of standard methods (mainly UNE-EN standards) for application to these materials. As case studies where the proposed method is applied, we present our research on the rammed-earth walls in the ramparts of Seville and Malaga (Spain), clearly showing the method’s capacity for comparing and differentiating different rammed-earth walls.     

Participating in Communities of Practice

ABSTRACT

Hospital librarians understand they need to move outside the four walls of the physical library and provide information support for clinicians in various settings. Librarians round with patient care teams as clinical librarians. They sit on quality improvement and patient safety committees in order to provide information to those groups. Many are members of their organization's Institutional Review Board. Some of these activities are done for a specific purpose and are short-lived. Other activities become institutionalized as the value of the librarian's contribution is recognized. This article will describe examples in which hospital librarians are part of multidisciplinary teams created to improve patient care in their hospital.     

Damage to frescoes caused by sulphate-bearing salts: where does the sulphur come from?

Abstract

Crystallization of sulphates in the form of gypsum and mirabilite/thenardite is one of the main causes of the accelerated disintegration of historic frescoes. The sulphur, which is necessary for these processes, may originate from a large number of different sources. Although the nature and velocity of the processes causing the damage, as well as the possible transport pathways of the saltforming ions, can be determined with reasonable accuracy, reliable information on the origin of the ions is seldom forthcoming. Sulphur isotope ratios were determined for various construction materials and salts from the church at Eilsum (Lower Saxony, Germany) where the romanesque frescoes have suffered serious damage. The studies showed clearly that sulphate on the walls inside the church, in contrast to that on the outside walls, originates mainly from the ground beneath the church from where capillary rise takes place within the walls. This information on sources and pathways of saltforming ions may contribute towards developing a programme of remedial measures.     

Assessment of Different Methods for Cleaning the Limestone Façades of the Former Workers Hospital of Madrid,Spain

Abstract

Five different methods for cleaning the limestone façades on what was originally the Workers Hospital in Madrid are analyzed in this paper. Due to the pollution in the surrounding air, just 20 years after a prior cleaning operation, sulfate crusts had developed on the entire stone surface of the building. The gypsum mortar used in the original masonry constituted an additional source of sulfur. Limestone is a traditional building material in Madrid and its surroundings. The petrography, mineralogy and petrophysical properties of the biomicrite, pelmicrite and biopelmicrite varieties of limestone identified in the hospital walls were determined. Analysis of a black layer on the stone surface showed that it consisted primarily of sulfate crusts. The cleaning methods tested were alkaline gels (sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide), pressurized hot water, glass bead blasting and latex peeling. The criteria for assessing the effectiveness and potential risks of the various cleaning systems included changes in the chromatic parameters of the stone, the formation of alteration products (i.e. salts) and modification of the stone surface. The stones cleaned with the three most effective methods, together with a rain-washed stone as a reference, were washed with water to generate an artificial runoff. The collected drain water was analyzed to determine the presence of any by-products from the cleaning process. The method found to be most effective and which caused the least alteration to the stone surface was glass bead blasting, particularly after adjustment of the bead size and pressure conditions used for the test.     

Built-Heritage Multi-temporal Monitoring through Photogrammetry and 2D/3D Change Detection Algorithms

ABSTRACT

Cultural heritage assets are continuously exposed to risks and hazards. With the main aim to assess deterioration and improve conservation methods, the scientific community has proposed a variety of tools for the early identification of changes in heritage. Multidisciplinary approaches are common in heritage monitoring and conservation. This paper investigates the potential of change detection algorithms developed in remote sensing, and here applied at the monumental scale instead of the geo-spatial one. A monitoring methodology which integrates photogrammetry, 2D/3D change detection, and data interpretation is described and tested on the façade of the church of Stavros tou Missiricou (church of the Cross within the walls) in Nicosia, Cyprus.     

Preventive Conservation Applied to Wallpaintings in a Desert Environment in Mexico

ABSTRACT

The church of San Diego de Alcalá, located in Pitiquito, Sonora , in Mexico, lies on a missionary road founded by the Jesuit Eusebio F. Kino, which, with the expulsion of the Jesuit order in 1767, passed into the care of the Franciscans. It contains wallpaintings which presented deterioration problems whose cause was not easy to determine, since the damage appeared to be inconsistent with the techniques used and the environmental conditions. With an interdisciplinary team, a methodology was designed for a combined study of the environment of the church and its wallpaintings. Thermal imaging of the exterior and interior walls indicated that the building was made up of different materials, and the junctions between them explained the different deterioration pathologies between one zone and another. Hydrological maps for groundwater in the locality were studied, to elucidate the presence of water in a desert zone; abundant sources of water in the subsoil were identified, which, because of overexploitation of the land, have been diminishing over time. This allowed the elaboration of a plan for site management, through the identification of those deterioration factors that can be mitigated by simple maintenance actions that are inherent to the environment and the materials, which enabled a scheduled maintenance scheme to be implemented. This improved the condition of the building and its wallpaintings, while reducing the resource invested to achieve this goal.     

A Multi Proxy Investigation of Moisture,Salt, and Weathering Dynamics on a Historic Urban Boundary Wall in Oxford,UK

ABSTRACT

Boundary walls are neglected but important parts of historic urban environments, and they are often prone to serious deterioration. Understanding moisture and salt dynamics within boundary walls can help infer the causes and dynamics of deterioration. This investigation investigates the patterns of moisture, salt, and deterioration on a 300 year old limestone boundary wall in Worcester College, Oxford. Multiple methods to assess moisture and salts within and across the wall (electrical resistivity tomography, handheld resistivity-based moisture meter, paper pulp poultices, scanning electron microscopy, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry, and ion chromatography of small scale sampling of deteriorated limestone) were used in conjunction with decay mapping of both sides of the wall. The salt weathering strongly correlates with severely weathered zones at the wall and salts, mainly sulfates, seem to be the main agent of decay processes. The combined results demonstrate that the environmental influences driving stone decay can differ on a very small scale even at a comparatively simple structure like a boundary wall, and that repairs can have adverse effects if the patterns of salt and moisture dynamics are not sufficiently known.     

Detection and Identification of Waxes,Including Punic Wax,by Infra-red Spectrography

Abstract

Algal and cyanobacterial growth occurring on the plaster-covered interior walls of the church of St Stephanus at Pilsum (northern Germany) has been studied. A Mobile Ultra Violet Unit (MUVU) has been successfully applied to the church walls in order to control growth of photosynthetic organisms. The killing effect of the UV-light on the flora has been demonstrated by the following methods: (1) infrared photography, (2) quantitative chlorophyll determinations, (3) transmitted light microscopy, (4) scanning electron microscopy and (5) plate counts. It was demonstrated that the MUVU method is efficient and cheap. The construction and operation of the MUVU is easy. Assessment of the efficiency of the process can be carried out without complicated chemical or biological analyses, by using IR-photography.     

Outreach

Abstract

Academic libraries have often participated in outreach to their surrounding communities. This article focuses on independent outreach efforts of academic libraries to move beyond their walls or traditional clientele. Academic libraries determine their interaction with their communities based on three factors: whether a need is expressed from outside the academy, whether they see their mission as an invitation to pursue an action on their own accord, or whether they construct a form of outreach in response to a specific problem or crisis. Most libraries, public and private, recognize outreach as part of their mission and obligation to the community. This article examines why libraries choose to initiate outreach programs.     

The conservation of artworks and hot air heating systems in churches: are they compatible? the case of rocca pietore,italian alps

Abstract

Most artworks require a stable microclimate and a field study has been undertaken to understand the environmental risks in a mountain church that is heated once a week. The church was selected on the basis of the artworks present and the existing heating system: a hot-air system which is popular due to its low cost and rapid response. The heating system is switched on only during the liturgical services and generates rapid temperature and humidity changes which, in the long run, are very damaging. The temperature stratification leaves people with their feet in cold air, whereas the air in the upper levels is too hot and dry. Moisture condenses on the cold walls. Deliquescent salts in masonry and frescoes undergo dangerous crystallization cycles. Wooden artifacts contract and expand in line with humidity cycles. Deposition of candle and incense smoke is increased, darkening the artworks. The paper discusses these problems, some common errors, and possible methods to mitigate the risk factors.     

A Revised Endpoint for Ceramics Desalination at the Archaeological Site of Gordion,Turkey

Summary

At the archaeological site of Gordion, Turkey, all registered ceramics are routinely desalinated. The standard desalination treatment was investigated by the author with a view to minimizing damage to the ceramics, as well as the amount of water used and the time taken for desalination. An equation that standardizes conductivity measurements in disparate desalination situations is presented. A series of experiments was performed to clarify the behavior of salts at Gordion. Two variables which directly affect the amount of water needed for desalination were considered: the frequency of water changes and the weight-to-volume ratio. The experimental results were compared to on-site experience, and a revised endpoint for desalination is proposed.     

Information Services in the Year 2000 and Beyond

Summary

Today's libraries-academic, research, public, and elementary and secondary schools-are in the midst of an extended period of unprecedented change and adjustment. Having never been static organizations, they have existed within and responded to changes in the communities they exist to serve. Computerization, electronics, and telecommunications have resulted in the alteration of almost every function performed in libraries today. The reference services extended by these libraries are no different. In keeping with their missions and goals, they must adopt and incorporate the new information technology now as well as the year 2000 and beyond. Problems and challenges which must be solved and met are discussed. There is no doubt that the library user will benefit as services are expanded to include among other innovations: services expanded beyond the walls of the library and its physical collection, interactive face-to-face teleconferencing with information specialists, and machines utilizing artificial intelligence which assist in identifying and locating information.     

Building Brand Love and Gaining the Advocacy You Crave by Communicating Your Library's Value

ABSTRACT

Five years ago the Association of College and Research Libraries published “The Value of Academic Libraries” report, spurring academic libraries to action concerning assessment. Communicating library value is especially important when reaching distance learning populations outside the walls of the library. By employing marketing and branding strategies combined with the library's inherent characteristic of compassionate service, the library can use its powers for good to communicate value and gain advocacy for the library. This article discusses one distance learning librarian's experience building campus partnerships by assessing library services, and using assessment to build advocacy for the library within the institutional distance learning community.     

A practical comparative study of several treatments for waterlogged wood

Abstract

In this study, the following methods of treatment have been studied: bulking with PEG 4000 in water, methanol and t-butanol solvents; bulking with PEG 540 blend in water; bulking with rosin in acetone; freeze-drying from different concentrations of PEG 400 with various methods of pre-freezing; in situ polymerization with glycol methacrylate and with a melamine formaldehyde resin; water displacement with methylene chloride followed by rosin impregnation. They have all been carried out with five groups of waterlogged wood representative of different species and various states of degradation. Freezedrying, PEG 4000 impregnation in t-butanol and PEG 540 blend impregnation in water gave the most satisfactory results, based on appearance and shrinkage.     

NOTES ON THE CONSERVATION OF SCULPTURE,STONE, MARBLE AND TERRACOTTA

Abstract

Sulphuration is the main destroyer of marble, producing imaginary (not true) patina. Other reasons for the discoloration of marbles are discussed. Magnesium silicate saturated with de-ionized water is a safe and simple cleaner. Sintolite is advocated as an adhesive for marble rather than the general more fluid epoxy resins. Solid polyvinyl acetate is strongly advocated as the basis for sma1l repairs to internaIly housed marble. The consolidation of marble is discussed and a method for internal exhibits recommended. Conservation of unbaked clay is touched upon, and a method for the repair of terracotta suggested together with a process for the reproduction of a glazed frieze using a latex mould and epoxy-reinforced plaster casts. A few remarks are made concerning the dangers of cleaning alabaster with water. The commentary is of a general nature and is not intended as a strict blueprint for any particular object.     

Beyond These Walls

Abstract

To enhance the learning experiences of all students, today's academic librarians must engage in outreach efforts that move beyond the walls of the library. In the past year, Oakland University's Kresge Library has made significant inroads in developing outreach initiatives that provide needed services to previously underserved student populations, such as transfer students, multicultural groups, and on-cam-pus residents. These programs have increased the library's visibility, enhanced its image among the university's students, faculty, and staff alike, and positioned it at the heart of teaching and learning on campus. This article describes some of these outreach efforts.     

PROPERTIES AND PRESERVATION OF ETHNOGRAPHICAL SEMI-TANNED LEATHER

Abstract

In contrast to fully tanned leather, that used by the Canadian Indians and Eskimos has poor durability. When stored under less than ideal conditions it becomes stiff and brittle, and restoration of such artifacts presents problems. The methods used for sound leather, such as fat liquoring or staking, cannot be used once the skin has deteriorated. A method used successfully is described. It consists of soaking the artifact in water to gain pliability and then replacing the water with organic liquid in order to avoid shrinkage on drying. Flexibility is preserved by permeation with an emulsion containing a stabilized olein soap, neat’s-foot oil and ethyl alcohol. Gut-skin may be treated by a modification of this emulsion. Fur poses a lesser problem because the skin is thin and can easily be permeated with an aqueous emulsion of sulfited sperm oil. Several examples of restoration are given.