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

THANK YOU