Environmental control, protective housing, and careful handling of collections can prevent or slow deterioration—but very fragile or deteriorated items in a collection may need additional intervention, particularly if they must be frequently used. Reformatting can provide a use or preservation copy of deteriorated materials, while treatment can stabilize and strengthen the original item.

Preservation reformatting of paper collections encompasses microfilming, photocopying, duplicating, and/or digital imaging. These options may be used alone or in combination, depending on the circumstances. Reformatting of film and electronic media (e.g., motion picture film, negatives, and sound and video recordings) involves duplication onto new media, sometimes in alternate formats. Treatment options for original paper-based items include professional conservation treatment, in-house repair (also known as collections conservation), and library binding.

Reformatting and treatment can be time-consuming and expensive and may not be justified for all deteriorated collections. How do you decide which collections deserve attention? What role should reformatting and treatment play in a systematic preservation program for paper-based collections?

Learning Objectives

This session will help you:

• identify standards, guidelines, and best practices for preservation microfilming, preservation photocopying, digitization, and duplication of audiovisual materials;
• understand proper techniques for in-house repair, conservation treatment, and library binding;
• consider strategies for selecting collections and managing reformatting and treatment projects; and
• identify additional resources to help you learn more about reformatting and treatment.