Preservation:
Definition:
Preservation refers
to the set of activities that aims to prolong the life of a record and relevant
metadata, or enhance its value, or improve access to it through non-intervention
means. This includes actions taken to influence records creators prior to
selection and acquisition.
Introduction:
A library is a collection of books and other forms
of recorded information purposefully selected and systematically organized and
preserved by qualified library personnel for use by either the public or a
target group (Oluwaniyi, 2010). Library and education are two vital
institutions of socialization and perpetuation of the human race. The two
cannot be separated in an all-around development of human race. The provision
of library services is therefore crucial and indispensable to both the primary
and post primary educational system. Every needs a library; teachers and
students need to use library information materials in the teaching and learning
process. The achievement of a qualitative education program depends, to a great
extent, on quick access to library information resources (Adeniji, 2006).
Resources Category
Library information resources are made up of
print, non- print and a wide variety of their information bearing materials.
Therefore, library information resources can be divided into three (3) broad
categories which are:
- Print
resources
- Non-print
resources and
- Electronic
resources
Print Resources: - These are materials which have gone through the
technical process of printing. They are sub divided into reference and
non-reference information resources. Examples of reference books being found in
libraries are dictionaries, encyclopedia, colorful atlases, almanac, dictionaries
etc. while example of non-reference books are fiction books, periodicals,
newspapers and magazines etc.
Non-print Resources: - They are resources which depend on the senses of
sight or/and hearing to convey meaning. They are also divided into audio visual
software and hardware. The audio resource presents information through the
sense of hearing e.g. audio recordings, tapes. The visual resources present
information through the sense of sight as in visual materials like posters,
charts, photographs, etc. In case of audio-visual resources, it presents
information using a combination of both senses (senses of sight and
hearing)e.g. films, home video, television. All these are audio-visual
software. The audio-visual hardware are the machineries or gadgets for using
the software,. They include record player, projectors and video recorders.
Electronic Resources: - These are computer based information resources in
the libraries .e.g. Microcomputer with a Compact Disk -Read Only Memory
(CD-ROM), computer with internet connectivity. Library information resources
are very essential because they are librarian’s stock in trade; there is no way
a library can offer any meaningful services without these library resources.
Concept of preservation
Preservation is defined as everything which
contributes to the physical wellbeing of information resources and it includes
the protection, maintenance and restoration of library and archive information
resources. The term preservation also includes all the managerial and financial
considerations such as storage, accommodation provision, staffing levels,
policies, techniques and methods involved in preserving library and archives
information resources and the information contained in them. Preservation is an
aspect of the management of the library. Its objective is to ensure that
information resources of any kind or form survive in an accessible and useable
form for as long as it is wanted (Popoola, 2003).
Aspect of Preservation
However, there are dos and don’ts which the librarians/teacher
librarians and the library users should follow to increase the longevity of
information resources in libraries. These are among others:-
·
Installation
of thermometer at the wall of libraries to regulate the temperature as at when
necessary;
·
Rare
information resources and manuscripts should be kept in specially prepared
containers;
·
The
use of humidifier to regulate the atmospheric moisture;
·
Installation
of fire extinguisher in case of fire outbreak;
·
Regular
dusting of shelves and information resources available in the school libraries
by using vacuum cleaner or fine brush;
·
Maintenance
of optimum storage condition is necessary to control the propagation of
biological agents of deterioration such as insects, rodents, moulds;
·
Provision
of photocopying machine to reproduce rare information resources so as to keep
the original copy;
·
Care
should be taken while photocopying any information bearing materials, because
as at that time stress is imposed on such material. The binding and the spine
may damage;
·
All
library staff should be trained on how to handle information resources and
likewise the library users;
·
A
disaster plan for the library should be prepared and reviewed at regular
intervals.
Environmental
Control
The three most important factors in environmental control
are humidity, temperature and light. Unless you have the opportunity to design
a new building or make substantial changes to an existing building, some of
these factors will be beyond your control, but it is still a good idea to work
toward the best possible conditions.
·
Temperature and humidity
According to Library of Congress preservation
recommendations, an ideal environment for books is 55° F in storage areas and
not more than 75° F in reading areas (below 70° F is better), with relative
humidity levels at 50 percent. Very low humidity can cause paper to
deteriorate, while high humidity encourages the growth of molds and mildew.
Books deteriorate more rapidly at higher temperatures and with drastic changes
of temperature and humidity, such as when air conditioning is turned off at
night and on weekends. While utility costs may make it impossible to keep the
library cool 24 hours a day (especially in the Arizona
·
Light
Both natural light and artificial light (especially
incandescent lights) contribute to heat buildup in the building. Yellowed paper
and faded inks are due in part to light exposure, particularly ultraviolet
radiation, the most damaging form of light. UV rays are present in sunlight,
fluorescent and tungsten lights, so whenever possible lights and windows should
be fitted with ultraviolet filters or drapes. It can be quite difficult to
protect the collection from the effects of sunlight in buildings with many
windows. Non-print materials are particularly sensitive to the effects of
ultraviolet light, so videotapes and microforms should never be shelved near a
window.
Preservation
Solutions
There are many ways that libraries can minimize damage
caused by preservation problems. Some possible methods for handling these
include binding materials, handling materials carefully, and repairing
materials.
·
Binding and Rebinding
Your collection will determine how often you encounter the
issues of binding and rebinding. If you regularly discard older journals, you
may not need to bind anything in your collection. Rebinding is probably an
issue if you have many books with damaged covers (especially paperbacks) that
you cannot replace, either because new copies are not available or because it
is cheaper to rebind. A reliable commercial binder may also offer repair
services, which is a plus if you are not able or willing to attempt repairs
yourself. There is a good listing of binderies at Yahoo!; there are also a
number of binderies in Phoenix and Tucson
·
Handling
Some basic guidelines for handling books can help reduce
the number of damaged books you encounter. These suggestions should be familiar
to both the library staff and customers. Avoid pulling on a book’s cover or
shoving books across dusty surfaces. Do not pack books so tightly on shelves
that their bindings become warped or their covers become torn by people trying
to pull them off the shelf. On the other hand, books should sit upright on
shelves, not leaning or bent to one side.
Non-print materials also require special care. Microforms
should be handled by the edges, since fingerprints can obscure the images, and
microfilm and microfiche readers should be cleaned regularly to prevent
scratching. Care should be taken to handle compact discs and CD-ROMs by the
edges and magnetic media (such as computer discs) should not be placed near
strong magnetic fields.
·
Book Repair
When you are trying to decide whether to repair a damaged
book, consider the resources needed to repair it (time, money, supplies and
expertise) versus the item’s value to the collection. If you decide to treat
the book, you must choose from a spectrum of options that ranges from simple,
expedient repair in the library to full conservation treatment by an expert. If
the item is valuable or irreplaceable, be very wary of applying any technique
that could further harm the book; on the other hand, if the item is easily
replaced or likely to drop off in use, it may be less important to use
“conservational sound” techniques. You may have to aim for a balance between
what is best for the book and what is possible given your resources.
