Preserve Materials

Preserve and conserve library and archival materials through environmental control, proper handling, repair techniques, and disaster preparedness.

When to Use

• You are establishing preservation practices for a new or existing collection
• Materials show signs of deterioration (foxing, brittleness, loose bindings)
• You need to set up environmental controls for a storage or display area
• You are planning digitization to preserve fragile originals
• You need a disaster recovery plan for a library or archive

Inputs

• Required: Materials to preserve (books, manuscripts, photographs, maps, media)
• Required: Current storage conditions (temperature, humidity, light exposure)
• Optional: Budget for preservation supplies and equipment
• Optional: Digitization equipment (scanner, camera, software)
• Optional: Condition survey of existing collection