In the relevant literature the terms Preservation and Conser vation are the ones used in relation to the activities involved in extending the lifespan of library materials. Although over the years the definitions available have varied,
the essential meaning has remained the same.
Bureau and Clements define Preservation as the activity which "includes all the managerial and financial considerations including storage and accommodation provisions, staffing
levels, policies, techniques and methods involved in preserv ing library and archive materials and the information con tained in them" and Conservation as the activity which
"denotes those specific policies and practices involved in protecting library and archive materials from deterioration, damage and decay, including the methods and techniques devised by technical staff".
Another term related to those already defined is Restoration. "Restoration denotes those techniques and judgements used by the technical staff engaged in the making good of library and archive materials damaged by time, use or other factors."[^] Preservation therefore, includes the preventive measures which will minimise the rate of deterioration.
Preventive Measures Briefly, these measures include monitor
ing and maintaining the environment at a satisfactory level with the use of special equipment such as air-conditioning, thermometers and hygrometers, so as to avoid excessive or very low levels of temperature and humidity, the results of which have already been described under "Reasons of Deterioration". The use of air-conditioning systems with special filters attached to them is just one method to filter and purify the air from the various pollutants. Photometers should be used to measure the amount of natural or artificial light falling
J.M. Bureau and D.W.G. Clements, Principles for the Preservation and Conservation of Librarv Materials, IFLA Professional Reports 8 (The Hague: IFLA, 1986) 2.
on items. In addition to that blinds on windows and filters on fluorescent lights should be used to reduce light and heat levels. Housekeeping. another preventive measure includes regular cleaning of the storage areas so as to reduce any dirt and remove dust and organic materials which attract fungi or animal pests. The securitv of collections against theft, vandalism, natural disaster or fire is of the utmost import ance. To minimise the occurrence of any of the above, an alarm system should be installed, a system for monitoring and checking structural failures, and periodic testing of alarms and vigilance by staff at all times is required. The use of boxes, folders, envelopes etc. (phased preservation) specially manufactured from acid-free paper can also extend the life of items and protect the material from dirt and major variations in temperature and R.H. or keep loose papers together. Another method which can be employed is that of substitution of the original material by providing to the users the infor mation in another format usually microfilm and thus protecting the original from further damage by handling. Amongst the Preventive measures included are Training programmes both for staff and users to increase awareness of the deterioration problems and to enable them to understand the vulnerability of the materials they are handling. Formal training pro grammes, simple rules and guidance should be available to all so as to eliminate abuse.
Conservation and Restoration terms which are usually inter
practical aspects which are involved in maintaining the item in its original format and preventing further deterioration.
"The entire scope of "restoration" ranges from the repair of a torn leaf, or removal of a simple stain to the complete rehabilitation of the material including at times, deacidification, alkaline buffering, resizing, filling in missing parts, resewing, replacement of endpapers and/or boards, recovering or restoration of the original covering material, and refinishing in a manner sympathetic to the time of the original binding of the publication."[^*]
M.T. Roberts and D. Etherington, Bookbinding and the Conservation of Books: A Dictionary of Descriptive Terminoloav
R E F E R E N C E S
American National Standards Institute. American National Standard for Information Sciences — Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials. ANSI Z39.48-1984. New York: ANSI,
1985.
Barrow, W.J. Deterioration of Book Stock: Causes and Rem edies: Two Studies on the Permanence of Book Paper. Richmond, Va: Virginia State Library, 1959.
Manuscripts and Documents: Their Deterioration and Restoration. 2nd ed. Charlottesville, Va: University Press of Virginia, 1972.
Bureau, J.M. and D.W.G. Clements. Principles for the Preservation and Conservation of Library Materials. I FLA Professional Reports 8 . The Hague: IFLA, 1986.
Hey, M. "The Washing and Aqueous Deacidification of Paper." The Paper Conservator 4, 1979: 66-80.
Library Conservation News 36, 1992: 3.
Maree, J. "The Conservation of Leather Bindings." In: Books in Peril: Proceedings of the Symposium on the Preservation of Library and Archival Materials in Southern Africa. Cape Town: South African Library, 1987. 165-171.
Pacey, A. "Alkaline 'Permanent' Paper." Canadian Library Journal 48 (6) Dec 1991: 412-414.
Parker, T.A. Study on Integrated Pest Management for Libraries and Archives. PGI-88/WS/20. Paris: Unesco, 1988. Pascoe, M.W. Impact of Environmental Pollution on the Preservation of Archives and Records: A RAMP Study. PGI- 88/WS/18. Paris: Unesco, 1988.
Peacock, J. Book Production. London: Blueprint Publishing, 1989.
Priest, D.J. "Paper and Its Problems." Library Review 36 (3) Autumn 1987: 164-173.
Racelis, F. "The Composition of Inks." Conservation Adminis tration News 29, 1987: 6+.
Ritzenthaler, M.L. Archives and Manuscripts: Conservation; A Manual on Physical Care and Management. Chicago, 111.:
Rydery M.L. "Parchment-its History, Manufacture and Compo sition." In: Baker, J.P. and M.C. Soroka. Library Conserva tion: Preservation in Perspective. Publications in the Information Sciences. Stroudsburg, Pa.: Dowden, Hutchinson & Ross, 1978. 85-90.