List of figures; Acknowledgements; Siderbar contributions; Chapter 1 Introduction; Chapter 2 What is Plastic?; Chapter 3 Which Plastic? Clues to Identification; Chapter 4 Problem Plastics; Chapter 5 Influencers on Plastics: Environment; Chapter 6 Influencers on Plastics: Material Choices; Chapter 7 Low-cost, On-site Monitoring of Plastics; Chapter 8 Plastics Collection Management Part 1: Processes and Procedures; Chapter 9 Plastics Collection Management Part 2: Discussions and Decisions; Chapter 10 Collection Care Approaches for All Plastics; Index.
Biography
Mary Coughlin is Associate Professor in Museum Studies at The George Washington University in the United States.
"Coughlin’s core mission is to demystify the nature of plastics while empowering professionals – whether conservators, registrars, archivists, or curators – to make informed decisions about their care. What distinguishes this work is its accessibility. Written with clarity and pragmatism, the book does not assume a background in chemistry but equips readers with enough foundational knowledge to engage in effective preventive conservation and management practices. It is both a teaching tool and a reference guide, equally appropriate for classroom use and for hands-on application in storage rooms, labs, or exhibition planning meetings.
At a time when plastics are both ubiquitous and unpredictable, this book provides not just tools for care, but also a thoughtful philosophy: care is contextual, decisions are imperfect, and small steps matter. Whether a reader is developing a condition survey for a historic costume collection, planning storage upgrades for plastic sculptures, creating mounts for contemporary artworks, or simply trying to identify a mysterious object off-gassing in storage, Coughlin’s work will be a valuable – and reassuring – companion."
~ Jakki Godfrey, Journal of the American Institute for Conservation, Published online: 26 Aug 2025.
