Preservation in Libraries: Perspectives Principles and Practice

Books, millions of books, are falling apart. A great deal has been written about information explosion and its impact on libraries. Nevertheless, all libraries face difficult challenge of having to choose from the voluminous publishing output both today’s and yesterday’s—which materials to purchase and preserve. The maintenance and care of the physical collection naturally extend the selection criteria to new works to decision on older works in the collection. Communities and institutions have an obligation to preserve the records of their culture and history. The library, as a repository of culture, must care for these materials and see to their preservation. A librarian is responsible for the preservation of the collections, ensuring that they are stored under best possible conditions, determining which materials require special facilities or handling to prevent or retard deterioration and deciding which materials merit conservation treatment. In the light of fast technological advances in the creation, storage and dissemination of information that librarians must revaluate the broad principles which have been guiding the field till now. With electronic formats of library materials on the increase these give in further encouragement to reexamine preservation principles specially in the present day perspective of electronic forms of preservation. "Preservation in libraries: perspectives, principles and practices" covers virtually the basic structure of preservation of book and non-book materials to help the professionals working in libraries, institutions which have the traditional responsibility to preserve the nation’s documentary heritage. Preservation has always been one of the primary aspects of librarianship. It has become a recognised speciality within the library profession in recent times. This naturally has led to the growth of certain principles which have guided discipline. The application of these principles to different situations calls for an in-depth understanding of these principles. This book has been prepared for the general staff of a library. This book is a welcome and timely contribution to librarianship and will serve in the years ahead as a practical guide to a growing problem that will continue to plague librarians while requiring commitment and resources to address and abate the problem.