Behind the Scenes: Environmental Controls

Preserving our Collection, including our historical buildings and the artifacts in them, is a never-ending job! In this short video, join Curator of Textiles and Collections Manager Rebecca Beall for a behind-the-scenes look at how we care for our historic spaces and museum objects through environmental monitoring and controls. Hot soupy summers and cold and dry winters are expected in New England but the changing temperatures and humidity can cause distress to our historic houses and objects. By monitoring spaces our staff can introduce fans and dehumidifiers to mitigate any damage or strain to our objects.
Your generous support to the Annual Fund helps us continue our mission of preservation and education for generations to come. Make a donation to our annual fund at www.osv.org/support/donate/

[@Charlesdward6491]

I read on the library of Congress website to store books at around 45% humidity and 72°. I try my best as I have books printed in the 16 and 1700's. Wish I had accurate instruments other than the sensors on the humidifier or dehumidifier. Do you have any recommendations for one on a budget?

[@OldSturbridgeVillage]

We cannot give specific recommendations, but you may find resources like the Gaylord or University Products catalog helpful. Our HOBO data loggers are from Onset.