What books do libraries preserve?

Answer 1

This depends on the type of library and what their mandate is. Most public libraries do not actively preserve books, but most academic and special libraries do.

The terms preservation refers to the process by which items are maintained and treated, and the actions taken to prevent or slow down the deterioration of any one item. This includes both passive and active preservation measures.

Passive preservation methods are the various forms of indirect action that are intended to limit damage to, and increase the life expectancy of, an item. Passive preservation may include:

• maintaining optimum (or near optimum) humidity and temperature (ideally, 45-55% RH, and 20-25C)
• avoiding direct exposure to sunlight
• avoiding exposure to other sources of UV radiation (including florescent lighting)
• limiting fluctuations of humidity and temperature
• maintaining adequate air quality (i.e. limiting pollutants)
• general housekeeping practices, such as dusting
• proper handling and shelving of books

Active preservation methods include all direct actions that are used to increase the life expectancy of a book. This may include:

• de-acidification of books
• repairing bindings
• mending pages
• treating books to get rid of infestations (such as bookworms or silverfish)
• lamination

How an item is chosen to undergo active preservation depends on the mandate of the library. Some collections can have millions of books, making it extremely difficult to do triage; as such, some libraries may simply start from one (random) point and make their way systematically through the collection. Some libraries may focus on selecting books for active preservation after they have come to the attention of library staff for whatever reason (such as if a book is requested by a user, or when a book is returned after being borrowed). Smaller collections (that also have adequate staffing) may audit the collection on a regular basis, thereby selecting those books that are in greatest need.