Preservation Week

From the American Library Association website:

Preservation Week is your opportunity to inspire action to preserve collections—in libraries, archives, and museums, of course, but especially the items held and loved by individuals, families, and communities. Preservation Week activities will also raise awareness of the role libraries and other cultural institutions play in providing sound preservation information.

Individually and as community partners, libraries, museums, and archives are encouraged to do at least one thing, even if it’s small, to celebrate Preservation Week. Host a program, event, or display; put a banner on your website; provide tip sheets from the Preservation Week website; talk to your policy makers and resource allocators about your community’s preservation needs. focus our combined attention and energy on preserving our information and cultural heritage in all collections.

Key environmental factors that place collection at risk:

• Light: Ultraviolet rays from natural and artificial sources can cause fading and disintegration.
• Pollutants: Dust is abrasive and can accelerate harmful chemical reactions.
• Heat: High temperatures can accelerate deterioration.
• Moisture: High humidity promotes mold growth, corrosion, and degradation, while excessive dryness can cause drying and cracking. Fluctuations between extremes can cause warping, buckling, and flaking.

Key items that should be preserved (historical materials that are unpublished and one-of-a-kind):

• architectural drawings
• artifacts
• audio and video recordings
• diaries
• genealogical information
• letters
• maps
• memoirs/reminiscences
• minutes/reports
• photo albums and photographs
• printed materials
• professional and business papers
• speeches/lectures

Check out “A Single Step Preservation Project” by MOSTHistory staff.