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New Jersey State Library Preservation Resources

for libraries

preserving a very old document a book sorely in need of restoration a librarian demonstrating book preservation

Public libraries are often repositories for important local history collections and cultural artifacts that deserve attention and care. Since librarians are the stewards of these irreplaceable collections, the New Jersey State Library has assembled a number of resources to help you in your preservation planning.

Don’t think you have a local history collection? Take a good look around your library. If you have any of the following, then the town’s irreplaceable local history is in your care: newspapers, maps, photographs, postcards, oral history, archival records of local clubs and agencies, family papers, government master plans, municipal meeting minutes, fine art, private papers.

Preservation Programs, Institutions, & Organizations

Conservation Centers

Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts
This Conservation Center specializes in the treatment of art and historic artifacts on paper. Established in 1977, CCAHA is one of the largest non-profit regional conservation labs in the country.
Northeast Document Conservation Center
NEDCC's mission is to improve the conservation efforts of libraries, archives, historical organizations, museums, and other repositories; to provide the highest quality services to institutions without in-house conservation facilities or those that seek specialized expertise; and to provide leadership in the preservation and conservation fields. The Center is a national and international resource for preservation education.

Online Training Guides

Heritage Preservation Guide to Online Resources
Heritage Preservation has compiled a Guide to Online Resources for the Institute of Museum and Library Services as part of the Connecting to Collections initiative.
Preservation 101 Online Resource
Created by NEDCC and supported by IMLS, this free online resource is a valuable, easy-to-access tool for professionals with preservation responsibilities, those new to the field as well as those with years of experience. Its self-paced structure and accessibility by subject make it a viable alternative to the traditional in-person training methods, i.e. workshops and courses.
Conservation On-Line (CoOL)
CoOL, a project of the Preservation Department of Stanford University Libraries and Academic Information Resources, is a full text library of conservation information, covering a wide spectrum of topics of interest to those involved with the conservation of library, archives and museum materials.
Western Association of Art Conservation (WAAC)
See especially the WAAC newsletter published since 1979 featuring ideas, information, news, and other material pertaining to the conservation of cultural property, especially matters of interest to conservators in the western United States.
American Institute for Conservation of Historic & Artistic Works (AIC)
Includes publications on disaster response & recovery and other conservation topics.
The Museum SOS Site, hosted by the American Museum of Natural History
Presentations, case studies, and other resources relating to disaster preparedness and response, and protecting you collections.
Repair & Enclosure Treatments Manual
Though primarily intended as a resource for student technicians in the Indiana University Libraries, the information given here may also prove useful to those who either are or wish to become responsible for the preservation of library collections or for those interested in the preservation of private or personal collections.
Primer on Disaster Preparedness, Management and Response: Paper-Based Materials
A collaboration of the Smithsonian Institution, Library of Congress, National Park Service and National Archives and Records Administration.

Components of a Comprehensive Preservation Program

Resources Suppliers, Vendors

(Does not constitute endorsement from the New Jersey State Library)

For questions concerning Preservation issues contact Michele Stricker, Deputy Director, Library Development Bureau, New Jersey State Library at 609-278-2640 Ext. 164, or email mstricker@njstatelib.org

For questions regarding the New Jersey State Library’s Jerseyana collection contact Deborah Mercer at 609-278-2640 Ext. 145, or email dmercer@njstatelib.org.

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