Take a look at our free PDF guides on a range of conservation issues. These PDFs provide guidance on topics such as basic preservation techniques and environmental management. They also cover caring for books, photographs and bookbindings.
The PDF preservation guides listed below are for personal and academic use only. They are not for commercial use.
Please be advised that these guides are under review and some of the links in the current versions may no longer be up to date.
A starting-point for managers of library and archive collections.
Identify causes and types of book damage and know what remedial work can be done.
Set out your organisation’s approach to the sustainable use of its collections.
Find out about the importance of bookbindings and how to preserve them.
Guidance on applying to grant-giving bodies for preservation projects.
Guidance on cleaning methods for removing surface dirt from books and papers.
How to handle books, documents and other library and archive materials.
Guidance on accommodation, shelving and storage furniture for library and archive collections.
This guide concentrates on temperature and relative humidity.
How to prevent insects from causing damage to paper-based collections.
Entender cómo se desarrollan y actúan las plagas y así evitar futuros daños a colecciones.
Includes guidance on environmental control and storage to prevent damage from mould.
Best practice for moving library and archive collections.
Outlines how photographs can deteriorate and provides guidelines on good preservation practice.
Outlines how photographs can deteriorate and provides guidelines on good preservation practice.
Be aware of the risks from photocopying, scanning and photographing documents, and how these risks can be mitigated.
How to salvage library and archive collections affected by water or fire damage.
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Please consider the environment before printing