Why the Library of Congress Destroys Rare Books

How do you protect paper-based historical artifacts without damaging the priceless originals? Adam Savage visits the Preservation Research and Testing Division at the Library of Congress, where division chief Dr. Fenella France and preservation scientist Dr. Andrew Davis explain the fascinating science of accelerated aging, paper chemistry and sacrificial testing. (Also, are you as surprised as Adam was by Machiavelli's "author photo" in the library's copy of The Prince?) Barrow Book collection: https://www.loc.gov/preservation/scientists/projects/barrow_books.html LOC's Preservation Research and Testing Division: https://www.loc.gov/preservation/ Library of Congress: https://www.loc.gov/ Visit the library: https://www.loc.gov/visit/ Inside the World's Largest Library, the Library of Congress: https://youtu.be/ObhSgET3TD4 More Adam Savage visiting museums: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJtitKU0CAejAaw7ZSM9gxwo-zrkzMwld Shot and edited by Joey Fameli Produced by Kristen Lomasney Subscribe for more videos (and click the bell for notifications): http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=testedcom Join this channel to support Tested and get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiDJtJKMICpb9B1qf7qjEOA/join Tested and Adam Savage Ts, stickers, (de) merit badges and more: https://adamsavage.com/ About Tested: https://www.tested.com/about Meet Adam in Person: https://www.tested.com/events Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/testedcom/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/testedcom TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@testedcom Amazon Storefront: http://www.amazon.com/shop/adamsavagestested Audio Described and Accessible Videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJtitKU0CAeiQLgj4PZ9onSW6YXIz5ADR 0:00 - Where Books Get Destroyed 0:38 - Accelerated Aging & Parchment Testing 2:33 - Barrow Book Collection 4:33 - A1599 New Testament 6:09 - Inspecting a Vellum Machiavelli (1500s) 7:27 - Barrow’s Destructive Testing Methods 9:32 - Modern Spectroscopy & Digital Datasets 10:20 - 1934 Book Aging Mystery 12:55 - How Museum Conservators Use the Data Intro bumper by Abe Dieckman Thanks for watching!