The Library of La Merced

To address the problems of preserving cultural property within an urban environment, the Getty Conservation Institute and the Municipality of Quito in Ecuador are collaborating on several endeavors, including a conservation project at Quito's Library of La Merced.

The project, funded by the J. Paul Getty Trust, is being conducted jointly by the GCI, the Getty Center for the History of Art and the Humanities, the Instituto de Conservación y Restauración de Bienes Culturales of Madrid, and the Municipality of Quito.

The GCI will assist in the conservation of the Library's collections where needs include book cleaning and repair, protective acid-free casing for materials, and treatment for insect infestation. The Getty Center will undertake the cataloging of the collections, while the Municipality of Quito will repair the Library building to eliminate water damage to books. Two members of the Library staff will receive training in several subjects including cataloging, basic book conservation, and library management.

In 1990 La Merced was the recipient of a preparation grant from the Getty Grant Program.