bevaringsjournal

Bevaringsjournal is a logbook or digital record used within Swedish cultural heritage institutions to document the preservation status and conservation actions for a specific object or item in a collection. The journal aims to support long-term care by providing a traceable history of condition, interventions, and current or recommended preventive measures. It is typically maintained by conservators, curators, and collection managers and is stored in the institution’s collection management or digital preservation system.

A typical bevaringsjournal contains identifying information about the object (title, accession number, material, dimensions, provenance), a description of its current condition, notes on deterioration or risk factors, records of past restorations or treatments, and dates and details of any future planned interventions. It also documents environmental conditions and handling, storage, display, and packaging requirements, pest management actions, loans and transport, and risk assessments. The journal may include references to related documentation such as photographs, condition reports, and conservation reports.

The bevaringsjournal is updated after inspections, treatments, or changes in storage or display conditions to maintain an up-to-date preservation plan. It supports decision-making, compliance with professional standards, and continuity when staff change, and it can be used for accountability during acquisitions or deaccessioning.

In practice, bevaringsjournals follow institutional guidelines and, where applicable, national or international standards for documentation and conservation reporting. They are a key component of preventive conservation and long-term stewardship of cultural heritage objects.