Preservation (library and archive)

<p>In <a href="/facts/Conservation_and_restoration_of_cultural_property/epfKE7I1">conservation</a>, <a href="/facts/Library_science/AHbDQG5d">library</a> and <a href="/facts/Archival_science/SwmpT6te">archival science</a>, preservation is a set of preventive conservation activities aimed at prolonging the life of a record, book, or object while making as few changes as possible. Preservation activities vary widely and may include monitoring the condition of items, maintaining the temperature and humidity in collection storage areas, writing a plan in case of emergencies, digitizing items, writing relevant <a href="/facts/Metadata/qt35z79C">metadata</a>, and increasing accessibility. Preservation, in this definition, is practiced in a <a href="/facts/Library/hvdQNTtS">library</a> or an <a href="/facts/Archive/BgCG3dxa">archive</a> by a <a href="/facts/Conservator-restorer/33M2Rjes">conservator</a>, <a href="/facts/Librarian/Tze5ktWw">librarian</a>, <a href="/facts/Archivist/80HSSCXQ">archivist</a>, or other professional when they perceive a collection or record is in need of maintenance.
</p><p>Preservation should be distinguished from interventive <a href="/facts/Conservation_and_restoration_of_books%2c_manuscripts%2c_documents_and_ephemera/m3jsIzvU">conservation and restoration</a>, which refers to the treatment and repair of individual items to slow the process of decay, or restore them to a usable state. "<a href="/facts/Preventive_conservation_(disambiguation)/fw3Ek9Jj">Preventive conservation</a>" is used interchangeably with "preservation".
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Preservation (library and archive) open-in-new

Preservation (library and archive)