Preservation

                        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 summer!), some effort should be made to avoid “roller coaster” cycles of temperature and humidity.

·         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. Check your local directory under “Binderies” or “Bookbinding” for more options.

·         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.