Understanding Why and How Paper Degrades
Paper Deterioration: Some Essential Facts
Guidance for Various Format Types
Basic information and simple steps to take for the good care, handling, and storage of collections:
- Books
- Paper
- Photographs
- Scrapbooks and Albums
- Newspapers
- Comic Books
- Audio-Visual: Grooved Media, Magnetic Tape, and Optical Discs
- Audio-Visual: Motion Picture Film
- Asian Bindings
- Other objects: Video on making a custom storage box for objects
- Preservation Housing for Large Fragile Objects [PPTX, 12 MB]
For other materials not listed above (e.g., objects, textiles, paintings), see additional resources/references on caring for collections.
Where to get preservation supplies
Preservation Supply Specifications developed by the Library of Congress
Collections Care
Additional information on preserving collections, beyond good storage and careful handling:
- Matting and Framing
- Limiting Light Damage from Display/Exhibition
- Reducing Risk from Pollutants
- Marking Library Collection Materials
- Digitizing Collections
- Making Preservation Facsimiles (Preservation Photocopying)
- Dealing with Water Damage
- Library Binding using Advanced Bindery Library Exchange (ABLE™ 7.0)
- Contracting for Library Binding [PDF: 242 KB / 25 pp.]
- Contracting for Purchasing Pressure-Sensitive Labels [Word: 132 KB / 7 pp.]
- Conservation Treatment Manual for General Collections
Collections Care Videos
The Foundation of the American Institute for Conservation (FAIC), with support from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), hosts the Connecting to Collections Care (C2CC) online community, with free resources intended to be especially helpful to small and mid-sized institutions. Among the resources are live webinars covering a wide range of collections care topics that are later available on demand. View selections of C2CC webinars by the Library of Congress, as well as upcoming programs.
