Preventive conservation

Just as the name implies, the preventive conservation of books and archival materials includes procedures that prevent many harmful processes. Namely, in the conditions of elevated temperature and humidity, molds or other biological agents can cause damage. The presence of dust and other impurities favors such harmful processes. Preventive conservation includes procedures such as cleaning and dusting of the materials with special archival vacuum cleaners or brushes, disinfection (fumigation) of sheets or covers, conservation of bindings and wrapping of damaged covers with protective covers (neutral paper or cardboard). After the preventive protection has been carried out, it is necessary to return the books into a room with the appropriate level of relative humidity and temperature; hence the rooms have to be equipped with thermo-hygrometers and, if necessary, air dehumidifiers. The windows in these rooms should be equipped with protective UV films or shutters that prevent the harmful effects of sunlight.
The implementation of preventive conservation opens the space for curative protection, that is, for the complete conservation and restoration operations on the most damaged units.