Preservation and conservation

of Library Materials

Kamal Kant Gupta University of Rajasthan, Jaipur

Evolution of Writing Materials Stone & Metal 5000 years Ago Clay Tablets Use by Sumerian

600 B.C. Papyrus Use by Egyptians in

600 B.C. Skin Use in 190 B.C.

Early Writing Materials in India Stone & Metal Plates Birch-Bark Palm-Leaf Paper

Concept of Preservation & Conservation Preservation is process of keeping an

object safe harm or loss, damage, destruction or decay, and maintaining it in a sound condition for present use.

Conservation is an activity of which Preservation is one aspect and Conservation with the remedial treatment and restoration of document.

Types of Documents Palm Leaf Manuscripts Birch Bark Manuscripts Manuscripts, Book, Periodicals etc. Non Book Materials

Film Media Slide Microfilm, Magnetic Tape & Optical

Storage etc.

Preservation: Palm-Leaf Storing

Manuscripts placed and tied between wooden boards with wrapped cloth

High temperature and low humidity are extremely injurious. The ideal environment is 22-25˚ C and relative humidity between 45-55%

Preservation: Palm-Leaf Protection from Insects

Use of Insect Repellants

Fumigation Using Carbon tetrachloride and

ethylene dichloride (1:1)

Preservation: Paper Causes of Deterioration of Materials

Inherent Causes – inherent strength of paper depends on the length and strength of organic fibers

External Causes Temperature and Relative Humidity Light Biological Agents Atmospheric Pollutants

Preservation: Paper Human Causes

Handling by Library Staff Handling by Users

Preservation – Non Book Materials: Basic Consideration Physical Environment

Temperature - No single temperature can be prescribed for media formats is 75˚F for videotapes and cassettes; for magnetic tapes is between 50˚F to 125˚F

Humidity – Non Book materials are sensitive to this factor. Ideal humidity factor is 45%±5%

Preservation – Non Book Materials: Basic Consideration

Security – It focus on protection against human problems such as vandalism and pilferage. It will be necessary to store in a such location and manner that these cannot be accessed without assistance of staff.

Circulation Policy – Evolved a balance between security and service. A strict in-house circulation policy has certain advantages

Preservation – Non Book Materials: Basic Consideration Maintenance of Equipments - Non

book materials like videotapes, film, tapes, slides, transparencies, film strips etc. require additional equipments for their usage. These items are all susceptible to damage caused by improper maintenance of equipments.

Preservation – Non Book Materials: Basic Consideration Storing - non book materials like

phonograph records, tapes, Film, CD-Rom etc. should be stored in vertical position.

Handling - non book materials are mostly delicate and require proper handling by the librarian and the user.

Hazards to Library Materials Environmental Factor

Temperature Light and Darkness Humidity and Moisture Water Smoke Dust and Dirt

Chemical Factors

Hazards to Library Materials Biological Factor

Fungi Insects

Silver Fish

Termite Book Worm

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