Putting It Into Practice

Assessing Collections

Convincing others of the importance of preservation can be a challenge. Deterioration happens slowly over a long period of time and is not immediately obvious, especially if it results from internal vice or environmental problems (explored in more detail in later sessions). But anyone who has handled seldom-used books and been showered with flakes of yellowing paper knows that paper collections will not survive without special care.

Several strategies may be helpful in demonstrating the importance of preservation. Documenting deterioration and showing damaged materials to others can be very effective; highlighting positive evidence when preservation actions are carried out may also have an impact. If you are the person designated to take charge of preserving a collection, you must become informed about preservation issues and keep up with recent developments in the field. Taking courses like this one and reading preservation literature are important steps. You should try to share preservation information with your colleagues in a nonthreatening way.

It is clear that if historical collections are to survive in the best condition possible for the longest time possible, a systematic preservation program is necessary. An ongoing plan for carrying out preservation activities must be in place to ensure that scarce resources are used effectively and that important activities are not neglected.

The first step in preparing a preservation plan is to assess your institution's existing preservation needs: what preservation actions are needed, which of them are already under way, and which are not? Answering these questions is the purpose of a general preservation planning survey.