Putting It Into Practice

General Building Issues

It is crucial to maintain your building, including replacing the roof if needed.

The design of your building has a significant effect on the preservation of the collections stored there. The indoor environment is affected by the type and extent of insulation, the presence of windows, activities taking place within the building (e.g., the presence of people, pollutants generated by interior finishes and furnishings), and the capacity of the structure to resist moisture migration. In addition, the layout of collection use and storage spaces is crucial to maintaining security and environmental control.

Regular inspection and maintenance of the building and systems is also very important, since it lessens the impact of weather, forestalls water damage, and ensures that building systems are working properly.

If your institution is fortunate enough to be constructing a new building or renovating an existing one, preservation concerns can (and should) be taken into account when designing new systems and spaces for collection storage and use. This is true both for your main building and for any buildings that will be used for off-site storage If your institution must work with an existing building or buildings, there are still actions you can take to ensure that those structures provide the best possible protection for your collections.