Preservation and Conservation of Library Resources- A Vehicle for Long-Term Information Availability and Access

Abstract

The library is a social institution charged with the responsibility of disseminating knowledge to the people without any discrimination. Its holdings are the priceless heritage of mankind ranging from facts, ideas, thoughts, accomplishments and evidences of human development in multifarious areas, ages and directions. These past records constitute a natural resource and are indispensable to the present generation as well as to the generations to come. Any loss to such materials is simply irreplaceable. Therefore, preserving this intellectual and cultural heritage for posterity becomes not only the academic commitment but also the moral responsibility of the librarians and information scientists, who are in charge of these repositories. This work therefore takes a look at the concept of preservation and conservation, rationale for preservation and conservation practices, causes of deterioration to library collections, preservation and conservative measures and challenges facing preservation and conservation practices in libraries.