Fall / Winter 2009 - Rochester Institute of Technology

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From preserving images to preserving archives: James Reilly, director of RIT’s Image Permanence Institute, is well known for his research on the effects of temperature and humidity on library archives, and museum collections. Here, Reilly works in the IPI laboratory to analyze deterioration of documents under accelerated light exposure.
Focus Area | Preserving the World’s Artifacts Preserving the World’s Artifacts by Paul Stella For precious artifacts and cherished documents, time is the enemy. As the years pass, deterioration becomes an inevitable consequence, and the toll is often quite severe. Through the work of the Image Permanence Institute (IPI) at RIT, museums, libraries, and archives around the world are finding the means to slow the progression of decay. Incorporating Technology and Preservation James Reilly has served as IPI director since the institute’s formation as a department of RIT’s School of Photographic Arts and Sciences in 1985. Beginning with research on the preservation of 19 th century photographs, IPI’s mission initially focused on serving the imaging industry as its primary client, providing information on sustaining photographic materials through advancements in technology. “It’s only natural that with RIT’s history and the presence of so much photographic technology in Rochester, if there’s anyplace in the world that you could have an institute whose focus is on image preservation, it’s logical to think that it would be here in Rochester,” Reilly says. Over the years, IPI broadened its focus to serve a wide range of institutions. Archivists at national and international libraries and museums were acknowledging an ongoing struggle in managing storage conditions, a fundamental variable that most impacts the long-term viability of all kinds of collectibles. In many cases, archives were proving ill-equipped to withstand the ages. “The stewardship of those collections depends in large part on the environmental conditions they’re kept in,” explains Reilly. “They could do their collections a lot of good with the proper conditions; they could do them a lot of harm with the wrong conditions. The area we work in is the creation of technology in the form of software, hardware, and websites that assist in determining what the conditions are and analyzing what they mean. In other words, we are helping clients identify adjustments that can be made either to improve the preservation quality of the environment or to deliver a good environment through more sustainable solutions that use less energy in the process.” Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Environmental monitoring and assessment are the primary focus of IPI research. Its staff of nearly 20 professionals—including chemists and imaging experts—focuses on increasing awareness to the impact of internal climate changes, as well as intelligent management of conditions to help The Library of Congress: With more than 12.5 million photographs and 32 million books, the Library of Congress works with RIT to preserve its collections. New York Public Library: James Reilly, IPI Director, presents a progress report to the staff of the New York Public Library on environmental improvements using IPI Technology. Research at RIT 15
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Page 19 and 20: Focus Area | Preserving the World
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Page 23 and 24: Analyzing crime in real time: Rober
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Page 29 and 30: Research Awards and Honors Wendell
Page 31 and 32: Financials FY08 Awards by Research

Fall / Winter 2009 - Rochester Institute of Technology

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