Tuesday 5 January 2016

PRESERVATION AND CONSERVATION OF LIBRARY RESOURCES



The concepts are usually used interchangeably however, they are different in meaning. Preservation connotes deliberate efforts geared towards safeguarding library resources against any form of deterioration or destruction from their original content irrespective of the formats they appeared. It is a preventive measure. It aims at prolonging the life span of the resources. It involved been proactive by the librarian against any unforeseen potential threat or disasters. By way of illustration, it is like someone who regularly goes to hospital for medical check-up in order to avoid been sick or attack by any kind of diseases. Preservation can be done through proper planning of the physical structure and location of the library, staff education, user orientation and maintaining conducive temperature among others.
While conservation on the other hand is an efforts geared towards restoring, repairing those library resources that are already damaged or deteriorated in the library. By way of illustration, it is like someone who goes to hospital because he/she is sick, hence require medication for cure. Conservation is aim at restoring and stabilizing the condition of library resources already tampered with in order to ensure their perfect condition for use. It is all about treatment and curing in order to ameliorate or stop further damage. Conservation of resources can be achieved through Bookbinding: Books with loose joints or pages, loose spines, photocopying and restoring mutilated resources e.t.c.
Deterioration to library resources could be caused by human, biological, chemical agents or natural disaster. Basically, there are various reasons for preserving and conserving library resources: firstly, to provide Access: and secondly to ensure longevity of the resources.

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