ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NATIONAL PROGRAM FOR THE PRESERVATION OF LIBRARY FACILITIES OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
, consultant of the Department of Libraries of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation
The importance of libraries for the economic, intellectual and spiritual progress of society is valued more and more highly every year.
The Russian Law “On Librarianship”, adopted in 1994, established that “the basis of state policy in the field of librarianship is the principle of creating conditions for the universal accessibility of information and cultural values collected and provided for use by libraries.”
The Council of Europe, of which Russia is a member, constantly notes the extremely important role of libraries in present stage. The Council of Europe's draft recommendations on library legislation in Europe in 1999 emphasized that
Libraries are the main active and indispensable link both in the information chain and in the protection of cultural heritage,
they carry out the necessary external communication for the dissemination of knowledge in society,
· Library heritage constitutes the main part of the cultural heritage of European states and, as such, is a key component of their identity.
In order to meet the growing needs of society for information, it is necessary to preserve information and its carriers. In this regard, the problem of preserving library collections has ceased to be a private issue of librarianship and is becoming a problem of national importance, the solution of which largely determines the availability of necessary information, new ideas and knowledge to society.
Back in 1986, at the General Conference of UNESCO, the “Guidelines for International Action on the Preservation of Library Materials” were adopted, which provide for the creation in each country of a national program for the preservation of library collections.
In Russia, since 1993, the Ministry of Culture has done a great job of studying and analyzing the state of the country's library collections. As a result, it was concluded that a crisis situation has developed in the field of preservation of funds in libraries and that in order to overcome it, it is necessary to develop a comprehensive long-term strategic program at the national level, which would become the basis of state policy in the field of preservation of the country's library collections. Work has begun on the creation of the concept of the National Program for the Preservation of Library Funds of the Russian Federation, in which leading specialists from federal libraries and the Directorate for Libraries of the Ministry of Culture of Russia took part.
This important stage of work was completed in 1998 by the Collegium of the Ministry of Culture, which considered the issue “On the State Policy for the Preservation of Library Collections as a Part of the Cultural Heritage and Information Resource of the Country”. A package of documents was prepared for the meeting, among which the main one was the Concept of the National Program for the Preservation of Library Collections. The Collegium approved the ways of forming the state policy in the field of preservation of library collections proposed for its consideration and approved the Concept of the National Program.
In accordance with the decision of the Collegium on the basis of the Fundamentals of Legislation on Culture, the Federal Law "On Librarianship", the Federal Law "On Information, Informatization and Information Protection", as well as the "Directives for International Action on the Preservation of Library Materials" (UNESCO, Vienna, 1986) , the UNESCO Memory of the World Program (1992), the IFLA Preservation and Conservation Program (1986), on the basis of the Concept approved by the Board, leading specialists of the country developed a draft National Program for the Preservation of Library Collections of the Russian Federation. In April 2000, the draft National Program was approved by the All-Russian Meeting of the Heads of Federal and Central Scientific Libraries of the Subjects of the Russian Federation on the topic "State Policy in the Field of Preserving Library Collections", held in St. Petersburg, in July - by the Interdepartmental Expert Council on the Problems of Preserving Library Collections under the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation.
On July 26, 2000, the project was discussed and approved by the Board of the Ministry of Culture, where the question "On the National Program for the Preservation of Library Collections of the Russian Federation" was considered. Then the Program as an integral part of the Federal program "Culture of the years." was approved by the order of the Minister of Culture No. 000 dated 01.01.01.
The overall coordination of the Program is carried out by the Ministry of Culture and the Russian Library Association.
The program intends to gradually cover the entire library network of the country. Federal libraries of the system of the Ministry of Culture as scientific and methodological and coordinating centers organize the implementation of the Program and provide its legal and scientific and methodological base.
The interdepartmental level of the Program is provided by the Interdepartmental Expert Council on the Problems of Preservation of Library Collections, established under the Ministry of Culture.
It included representatives delegated by ministries and departments, leading specialists from major libraries, museums, and other institutions that have library funds.
To implement the Program, like any other major projects, it is necessary to create certain conditions, the most important of which are the existence of an implementation mechanism and project financing.
Even in the process of preparing the concept, the developers were solving the problem of forming a mechanism for the implementation of the Program.
Such a task as the preparation of a comprehensive program of this level, and even more so its implementation, would be beyond the power of any, even the largest library. An important organizational find was the creation of a system of scientific, methodological and coordinating centers as a mechanism for the development and implementation of the Program, which are responsible for each of the 7 subprograms that make up the National Program, namely:
· « Conservation of library collections» - for this subprogram, the base is the Federal Center for the Conservation of Library Collections of the National Library of Russia;
* « Preservation of information and the creation of the Insurance Library Fund "- scientific, methodological and coordinating center of this subprogram - VGBIL;
* "Book monuments of the Russian Federation"- RSL;
* "Security of Libraries and Library Collections"- Center for the Safety of Cultural Heritage of the State Research Institute for Restoration;
· "Preservation of library collections in the process of use"- GPIB of Russia;
· "Accounting for library collections"- RSL;
· "Program Staffing"- APRICT.
Practice has shown the need to organize such coordinating scientific and methodological centers, which constituted the administrative horizontal of the National Program. Already in the process of developing the Program, the centers proved their viability, readiness to organize further work on the implementation of the Program, and the justification of the principle of distributed responsibility.
Funding for major programs, especially those of national importance, cannot and should not come from a single source. No budget can cope with this task on its own.
Therefore, the financing of the Program is complex, consisting of the federal budget of various departments that have libraries in their charge, the budgets of the constituent entities of the Federation, and extrabudgetary sources.
From the budget of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, as the leading agency responsible for the formation and implementation of state cultural policy, including library policy, general scientific and methodological developments, the creation of a system of regulatory documents, the development of infrastructure for interlibrary, interdepartmental and international cooperation, etc. will be financed. The Ministry of Culture provides targeted financial support for projects of federal importance, carried out both by libraries of the system of the Ministry of Culture of Russia and institutions of other departmental subordination, as well as large regional projects, such as the creation of regional and interregional centers for the preservation of library collections, training and retraining of personnel, analysis the state of funds, etc.
Federal budget funds for the implementation of projects of the National Program for the Preservation of Library Collections are distributed within the framework of the Federal Program "Culture of Russia" as a result competitive selection projects. In 2001, more than 150 applications were submitted for participation in the competition of projects aimed at the implementation of the National Program. Of these, 56 projects have been selected for financing, a significant part of which has already been financed.
At present, the problem of preserving library funds has taken a worthy place in the structure of the state cultural policy in the field of librarianship, in the system of its priorities.
National program received the support of the Government of the Russian Federation. The Minister of Culture appealed to the Government with a request "in order to effectively implement the state policy in the field of preservation of library collections, increase the efficiency of work to ensure the safety and accessibility of national library collections
· to instruct the federal ministries and departments annually, when planning budgets, to provide for targeted allocations for the implementation of the National Program for the Preservation of Library Collections of the Russian Federation in the network of libraries under their jurisdiction,
· to recommend to the Administrations of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation to provide shared targeted funding for work within the framework of the National Program for the Preservation of Library Collections, and also to accept the Program as the basis for the development of relevant regional programs.
In response to this appeal, she instructed the federal executive authorities and executive authorities of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation "to consider the proposals of the Ministry of Culture of Russia on the preservation of library funds and take the necessary measures" (VM-P8-32365 of 01.01.2001).
Certain measures are already being taken in a number of regions and departments.
Since the beginning of 2001, Russian libraries have begun the third, most serious and difficult stage - the implementation of the National Program for the Preservation of Library Collections of the Russian Federation.
One of the first stages in the implementation of the National Program in all its areas is the creation of a regulatory and methodological framework. Implementation of the Program is possible only on the basis of uniform legal norms and scientific and methodological approaches. For this, first of all, it is necessary to improve the legal and methodological documents related to the field of conservation of library collections: the development of new ones and the modernization of existing ones, bringing them into a single system.
Currently, a number of new normative documents are being prepared, which will significantly strengthen and develop the normative basis of the National Program and the entire sphere of conservation of library collections.
· “Conservation of Library Collections”: a new GOST 7.50 “SIBID. Conservation of documents. General requirements” and GOST 7.48 “SIBID. Conservation of documents. Basic terms and definitions”, as well as the Collection of scientific and methodological documents “Organization of an interregional center for the conservation of library collections in the library”, prepared by the Federal Center for the conservation of library collections of the National Library of Russia;
· "Preservation of information and the creation of the Insurance Library Fund": under development GOST "Procedure for the creation of the Insurance Fund for Documentation, which is the national scientific, cultural and historical heritage", the leading organization - Rosarkhiv. The draft “Regulations on the Russian Insurance Fund of Library Documents”, prepared by the scientific, methodological and coordinating center of this subprogram - VGBIL, is under approval;
· "Book monuments of the Russian Federation": passes the last stages of approval of the "Regulations on book monuments of the Russian Federation", developed by specialists of the RSL as the basis for the implementation of state policy in the field of work with book monuments;
· "Security of Libraries and Library Collections": continues the development of normative and scientific-methodological documents Center for the Safety of Cultural Heritage of the State Research Institute of Restoration;
· "Accounting for library collections": the final stages of approval of the "Regulations on the sale of books excluded from the collections of libraries", prepared by specialists of the RSL.
In addition to developing a regulatory framework for the preservation of library collections, a lot of work is currently being done to examine the state of preservation of Russian libraries, conduct training seminars, scientific and practical work on the development and implementation of new technologies within the framework of the “Conservation of Library Collections” subprogram.
Work has begun on the creation of insurance funds for libraries, a number of projects in this area have been supported by the Federal budget, and work on the creation of a register of insurance microforms is coming to an end, within the framework of the subprogram “Preservation of information and the creation of an insurance library fund”.
A lot of work is being done within the framework of the Book Monuments of the Russian Federation subprogram. Unfortunately, the coordinators of this subprogram were unable to come to the conference, so I will allow myself to dwell on it in more detail.
The purpose of the subprogram is to implement a unified policy in relation to book monuments stored in libraries, museums, archives, book chambers and other holding institutions, to ensure their safety and use, state protection and legal protection.
The most diverse institutions of the country, to one degree or another, work with book monuments. This work is mainly carried out in isolation, both vertically - federal, regional and local institutions, and horizontally - libraries, museums, archives, etc.
At present, the task has been set to form the Unified Fund of Book Monuments as a system of complementary funds of various institutions, where each fund performs the special task of the most complete presentation of book monuments of the corresponding level: global and national, regional or local. The second global task is the organization of a centralized state registration of monuments in the Code of book monuments, which will become a distributed bank of bibliographic data about each monument as part of funds dispersed throughout the country.
The main approaches to working with book monuments are formulated in the “Regulations on book monuments of the Russian Federation”, prepared by specialists from the RSL. The federal scientific and coordinating center for work with book monuments in Russia is the Research Department of Rare Books of the Russian state library. The functions of regional scientific, methodological and coordinating centers should be performed by the central libraries of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation.
Conference "Book Collections of the Russian North: Problems of Study, Preservation and Use", which was prepared and is being held by the Arkhangelsk Regional Scientific Library. , shows that this library is becoming one of these centers.
I am sure that this conference will be very productive and useful for all its participants and for our common work on the implementation of the National Program for the Preservation of Library Collections.
Conservation of documents- ensuring the safety of documents through the mode of storage, stabilization, restoration and copying.
Establishing and Maintaining Regulatory Storage Mode
The document storage mode ensures the maintenance of standard parameters of light, temperature-humidity and sanitary-hygienic regimes.
In accordance with GOST 7.50-2002 “SIBID. Conservation of documents. General requirements” documents are stored in the dark or under diffused light. Documents should not be exposed to direct sunlight. The norm of illumination on the surface of documents during storage should be no more than 75 lux, when exposed at the time of inspection - no more than 150 lux. In the National Bank of the Republic of Kazakhstan, control over the light regime of storage is carried out using a special device "TKA-Keeper".
In the premises for storing documents, it is necessary to constantly maintain an air temperature of 18 ± 2 ° C, relative humidity of 55% ± 5%.
In order to ensure control over the mode of storage of library funds in the departments-fund holders of the library, the conservation sector monitors the temperature and humidity conditions for storing documents. As part of the implementation of activities under the project "Development of the Regional Center for the Preservation of Library Collections on the Basis of the National Library of the Komi Republic", temperature and humidity loggers were purchased.
Readings are automatically accumulated in the memory of the devices, and, if necessary, can be displayed on a computer in graphical form or in the form of statistical tables. A comparative analysis of data on changes in indicators carried out on a computer allows you to monitor the temperature and humidity conditions and, if necessary, take measures to create conditions for storing documents in accordance with GOST.
In addition, it is very important to control the temperature and humidity inside books, newspapers, magazines. This becomes especially relevant in case of emergencies, damage to a large array of documents by water. The HygroPalm portable hand-held meter allows, during the inspection of document storage conditions, to identify publications with a high level of humidity, which, in turn, helps to prevent contamination of publications by mold microorganisms.
Along with monitoring the temperature and humidity regime of storage, the conservation sector is working to maintain the necessary sanitary and hygienic storage regime, and carries out mycological supervision. Sector specialists inspect documents for mold damage. If necessary, the documents are disinfected with a biocide.
Document stabilization
One of the most important factors influencing the physical state books, is the acidity level of the paper. Both domestic and foreign scientists have repeatedly proved the negative impact of the increased acidity of paper on its safety, in connection with which the sector, if necessary, is working to determine the level of acidity of the paper of publications of national and local history literature, rare and valuable documents of the XIX-XX centuries. The acidity of the paper is determined by a pH meter.
Documents with an increased level of acidity undergo a stabilization procedure by the method of mass neutralization of the acidity of paper, which is carried out by the Federal Center for the Conservation of Library Collections of the Russian National Library
Phase conservation- temporary storage of documents in containers made of paper-friendly material (acid-free cardboard). The purpose of phase conservation is to protect rare and especially valuable documents from mechanical damage and exposure to aggressive factors. environment.
For the same purpose, the conservation sector is working to select sheet materials that are in poor physical condition and require additional preservation measures. In order to prevent their further destruction, these documents are encapsulated (documents are placed in a transparent polymer film). Encapsulation protects the document from dust, moisture, reduces mechanical stress during operation.
Production of containers from acid-free cardboard and encapsulation of sheet documents is carried out by
Library funds of permanent and long-term storage are a complex and heterogeneous array of documents published at different times, with different circulation, readership, demand, prerequisites for aging and damage, and, accordingly, different degrees of preservation.
The heterogeneity of documents makes it necessary for libraries to use various forms of conservation - preventive, stabilizing treatments, restoration. Within each form, there are various methods and technological methods used individually and in combination. In world practice, priority is given to the form of conservation, which allows to maximize the preservation of the largest possible number of documents with minimal interference of the conservator in the structure of the document. This form is recognized as preventive (prophylactic) conservation as a set of actions in order to protect publications and manuscripts from external influences by providing standard conditions for storage and use, i.e. creation and maintenance of favorable storage regimes (light, temperature and humidity, sanitary and hygienic) and the use of phase storage. In Russia, preventive conservation as a set of measures has recently begun to be dealt with.
The unfavorable state of library collections is becoming widespread, which can only be resisted by taking a set of the broadest measures, among which it is necessary to note the priority ones. Based on the analysis of the current situation, the following are identified as priority areas for conservation:
· Creation and maintenance of the normative mode of storage in existing libraries, in reconstructed and under construction library buildings;
introduction of phase conservation (phase storage as a form of temporary conservation);
· development of methods of mass stabilization;
development of mass restoration of documents.
The implementation of these areas with the predominant development of preventive (preventive) conservation will most quickly and economically ensure the safety of the largest possible number of documents.
In domestic practice, the most widespread labor-intensive, inefficient and expensive form of conservation - restoration. As a rule, the share of restored material, even in libraries with large restoration departments, is too small in relation to the entire array of damaged documents. That is why documents should be restored only by special decision of the custodian and conservator. The development of mass document restoration is aimed at increasing the productivity and efficiency of the restoration of dilapidated and damaged documents. The relevance of this direction lies in the fact that the share of restored material, even in libraries with large restoration departments, is too small in relation to the entire array of damaged documents. Increasing the efficiency of technologies and productivity of mass restoration will lead to a reduction in the volume of documents requiring urgent restoration.
Since the restoration of documents is the most time-consuming and expensive process of document conservation, its development should be accompanied by the improvement of a comprehensive scientific examination of documents, taking into account the uniqueness, historical and cultural significance, reader demand, and the physical condition of documents.
The development of preventive conservation and modernization in the field of stabilization and restoration is feasible only with the strengthening of existing and the creation of new centers for the conservation of documents serving certain regions. The extreme limited financial capacity of the state is one of the reasons for the concentration of material and human resources in a few centers equipped with the necessary equipment.
Conservation centers carry out research, methodological, teaching, practical activities. Scientific activity consists in conducting a comprehensive scientific examination and studying the processes of aging and damage to documents, developing and implementing new conservation methods, and effectively mastering equipment. Research activities should be developed on the basis of coordination, which will make it possible to make fuller use of scientific personnel and instrumental base. Methodical activity is to conduct consultations, prepare publications and disseminate teaching aids. Currently, there is an urgent need for methodological assistance for the further implementation of state standards and other regulatory documents regulating the storage and use of funds.
The choice of objects and the determination of the forms of conservation are carried out in strict accordance with the results of a comprehensive scientific examination and are based on four main criteria: uniqueness, historical and cultural significance of the document, its physical condition, demand.
To improve the selection of documents for priority conservation, determine the form of conservation, it is necessary:
· computer software for creating a database that allows you to obtain statistical and analytical information on each document or group of documents;
· staffing and logistical support of modern conservation technologies;
· availability of instrumental base for physical-chemical and biological researches;
Availability of a system of comparative estimates of labor intensity and cost of recommended technological processes.
Scientific-methodical and coordination center - Federal Center for the Conservation of Library Collections at the Russian National Library (FTsKBF).
Subprogram manager - S.A. Dobrusina, director of the Federal Central Design Bureau of the National Library of Russia.
Routine Developers- S.A. Dobrusina(head of the author's group), director of the Federal Central Design Bureau of the National Library of Russia, Z.P. Dvoryashina, Director of the Center for the Conservation of Documents of Higher Educational Institutions at the National Library of the Russian State Humanitarian University, G.A. Kislovskaya, deputy director of VGBIL, Yu.P. Nyuksha, Ch. consultant OKD BAN, N.I. Khakhalev, deputy Director of the RSL E.S. Chernina, senior researcher FTsKBF at the National Library of Russia, ON THE. Shcherbachev, consultant of the Department of Libraries of the Ministry of Culture of Russia.
Library funds of permanent and long-term storage are a complex and heterogeneous array of documents published at different times, with different circulation, readership, demand, prerequisites for aging and damage, and, accordingly, different degrees of preservation.
The heterogeneity of documents makes it necessary for libraries to use various forms of conservation - preventive, stabilizing treatments, restoration. Within each form, there are various methods and technological methods used individually and in combination.
In world practice, priority is given to the form of conservation, which allows to maximize the preservation of the largest possible number of documents with minimal interference of the conservator in the structure of the document. This form is recognized as preventive (prophylactic) conservation as a set of actions in order to protect publications and manuscripts from external influences by providing standard conditions for storage and use, i.e. creation and maintenance of favorable storage regimes (light, temperature and humidity, sanitary and hygienic) and the use of phase storage. In Russia, preventive conservation as a set of measures has recently begun to be dealt with.
At present, there is a significant accumulation of dilapidated and damaged documents in the libraries of Russia. Their volume continues to increase rapidly due to the critical state of storage facilities, lack of space and equipment, the absence of conservation services in most libraries, as well as insufficient awareness of librarians about the preservation of collections.
The unfavorable state of library collections is becoming widespread, which can only be resisted by taking a set of the broadest measures, among which it is necessary to note the priority ones. Based on the analysis of the current situation, the following are identified as priority areas for conservation:
- creation and maintenance of a standard storage regime in existing libraries, in reconstructed and under construction library buildings;
- introduction of phase conservation (phase storage as a form of temporary conservation);
- development of mass stabilization methods;
- development of mass restoration of documents.
1. Creation and maintenance of a standard storage regime in existing libraries, reconstructed and under construction library buildings- the main component of preventive conservation, which is a set of actions in order to protect publications and manuscripts from adverse external influences. The document storage regime is ensured by observing the standard temperature and humidity, lighting, and sanitary and hygienic condition of the premises.
During the reconstruction of old and construction of new library buildings, the requirements of SNiP and GOST 7.50 "Conservation of documents. General requirements" must be strictly observed.
Libraries should be equipped with the necessary technical means for monitoring the environment and maintaining standard conditions for storing documents.
2. Phase conservation. The introduction of phase conservation - temporary storage of documents in containers made of special materials that are allowed for use - is another component of preventive conservation.
The purpose of phase preservation is to protect documents from mechanical damage and exposure to aggressive environmental factors for a certain period of time.
Documents are placed in boxes made of acid-free cardboard or other material that is harmless to the object of storage. For the same purpose, encapsulation is used for sheet documents - the encapsulation of a document in a transparent polymeric inert film.
3. Development of methods for mass stabilization of documents - special processing that slows down aging and prevents damage to documents. This is, first of all, the neutralization of the acidity of paper, the creation of an alkaline reserve, protection against biodamage with a prolonged effect. Bulk stabilization is preferred as it is more productive and applicable to most permanent and long-term storage documents.
In Russia, mass stabilization technologies are practically absent.
The development of forms of preventive conservation and mass stabilization will reduce the need for restoration of documents.
4. Development of mass restoration of documents. In domestic practice, the most widespread labor-intensive, inefficient and expensive form of conservation - restoration. As a rule, the share of restored material, even in libraries with large restoration departments, is too small in relation to the entire array of damaged documents. That is why documents should be restored only by special decision of the custodian and conservator. The development of mass document restoration is aimed at increasing the productivity and efficiency of the restoration of dilapidated and damaged documents. The relevance of this direction lies in the fact that the share of restored material, even in libraries with large restoration departments, is too small in relation to the entire array of damaged documents. Increasing the efficiency of technologies and productivity of mass restoration will lead to a reduction in the volume of documents requiring urgent restoration.
Since the restoration of documents is the most time-consuming and expensive process of document conservation, its development should be accompanied by the improvement of a comprehensive scientific examination of documents, taking into account the uniqueness, historical and cultural significance, reader demand, and the physical condition of documents.
The development of preventive conservation and modernization in the field of stabilization and restoration is feasible only with the strengthening of existing ones and the creation of new ones. preservation centers serving certain regions . The extreme limited financial capacity of the state is one of the reasons for the concentration of material and human resources in a few centers equipped with the necessary equipment.
Conservation centers carry out research, methodological, teaching and practical activities.
Scientific activity consists in conducting a comprehensive scientific examination and studying the processes of aging and damage to documents, developing and implementing new conservation methods, and effectively mastering equipment. Research activities should be developed on the basis of coordination, which will make it possible to make fuller use of scientific personnel and instrumental base.
Methodical activity is to conduct consultations, prepare publications and distribute methodological manuals. Currently, there is an urgent need for methodological assistance for the further implementation of state standards and other regulatory documents governing the storage and use of funds.
Learning activities through teaching scientific foundations conservation, lectures and internships for conservators and library curators. Universities and libraries in Moscow and St. Petersburg have accumulated experience in scientific and practical work, which can be adapted to the specific needs of other libraries. In the future, the centers should develop a unified training program and define service regions.
Practical activities includes the performance of work on the conservation of documents of libraries in Russia that do not have their own services.
The subprogram is designed for 10 years.
Purpose of the subroutine:
ensuring the safety of documents by conservation methods;
development and implementation of a unified approach to the conservation of documents of various types.
Subprogram tasks:
- creation of a system of inter-regional (regional) centers;
- ensuring the safety (conservation) of documents;
- development of a set of basic scientific and methodological documents on the organization and activities of interregional (regional) conservation centers;
- development of a regulatory framework for the preservation of documents;
- organizing and coordinating the activities of Russian libraries in the field of conservation;
- development and implementation of mass conservation technologies in the activities of interregional centers.
- providing access to stored original documents;
- expanding access to information contained in documents through recommended copying technologies (microfilming, photocopying, scanning);
- efficient use of financial resources, thanks to the cooperation of libraries and the development of mass conservation technologies.
The choice of objects and the determination of the forms of conservation are carried out in strict accordance with the results of a comprehensive scientific examination and are based on four main criteria: uniqueness, historical and cultural significance of the document, its physical condition, demand.
- Uniqueness - the criterion separating from the main mass of documents, first of all, manuscripts, rare books, archival materials. For them, improved storage conditions are necessarily created and, if necessary, restoration and stabilization are provided. For the huge volume of documents that are not unique, information regarding three other criteria is important.
- Historical and cultural significance . The group of documents for priority conservation includes documents of high historical and cultural significance. The vast majority of these are unique documents.
- Document Status - a criterion characterizing the degree of change in the properties of materials under the influence of environmental factors. Documents with significant damage are subject to priority conservation.
- Frequency of use
. The order of conservation of documents according to the above criteria is adjusted according to the frequency and nature of use.
The increased demand for documents is the basis for their transfer to non-traditional media, the life of the originals is extended through special processing.
To improve the selection of documents for priority conservation, determine the form of conservation, it is necessary:
- computer software to create a database that allows you to obtain statistical and analytical information for each document or group of documents;
- personnel and logistics modern conservation technologies;
- availability of a tool base for physicochemical and biological research;
- availability of a system of comparative assessments labor intensity and cost of the recommended technological processes.