WEEK ONE: CONCEPTS OF PRESERVATION AND CONSERVATION

▪ The library can be defined as a place or a space where information are gathered,
processed, stored and disseminated in book and non-book forms as the case maybe or in
electronic format by the assistance of a qualified librarian/computer intelligence to users
who need the information. This definition focused on a library as both a physical space
where users can go physically and a wall-less space where users can access via computer
and digital technologies.
▪ This study would focus more on the library that is hosted within the four walls of a
known location that has both physical and digital divisions. This library can then be
defined as an accommodation or a place where information are generated, processed,
stored and disseminated in both book and non-book/print/electronic formats by a
qualified library personnel to users who need them. It is a logical fact that when
something is used and its useful such a thing must be preserved and conserved for further
use.
▪ Because of the usefulness of the information resources in the library and information
centres they must be preserved and conserved for further uses. Preservation and
conservation of information materials in the library therefore have become a necessary
situation and activities in the library and information centres….what then are the
concepts:

Preservation

❖ Preservation of information resources/materials includes all managerial and financial

consideration: including storage and accommodation, policies, techniques, staffing as
well as methods adopted for preservation in a library.
❖ Preservation can also be said to be everything which contributes to the physical well-
being of a collection which may include: protection, maintenance and restoration of
library and archive information resources.
❖ Preservation is the maintenance of information materials so that they can be close to their
original condition as much as possible with attention to all conditions and means that be
can used to ensure this.
 ❖ Preservation is any action carried out or done to retard and slow down the process of
information materials deterioration by controlling the environment and/or the treatment
of information centre structure.

It must be noted that preservation centres on the crucial conditions that must be considered
while ensuring the protection of information resources in library and information centres.
They involve actions that are not direct to the protection of the information resources. They
are only measures/conditions/methods and response attitudes that are exhibited towards the
protection of information resources.

What is conservation?

Conservation on the other hand, are more specific actions aimed at forestalling, stopping,
handling, intervening and more, in the condition of information resources that is facing
deterioration. These are targeted actions that have direct impact on what is been protected.

❖ Conservation are activities, actions and operations which are intended to prolong the
life-span of information materials by forestalling damage or remedying deterioration.
❖ Conservation is a specialized process of making fragile objects safe or to a certain extent
usable.

According to Kemoni (1996), conservation involves three basic steps: they are Examination,
Stabilizing and Restoration.

▪ Examination: this is a step taken to identify the extent of damage and the cause of
damage’
▪ Stabilizing: these are actions done to keep the environment at check in order to prevent
further damage to the resources. This can involves checking for the temperature,
checking relative humidity, good house-keeping, fire control etc.
▪ Restoration: Repair, bring back the object or information resources and to ensure their
prolong use.
Differences between preservation and conservation of information resources

S/N Preservation Conservation

1 Preservation is all managerial efforts Conservation are specific actions taken to deter
directed at prolonging library resources deterioration of library resources
2 Preservation is a management activity Conservation is an operational thing
3 All library staff cannot participate in All can participate in conservation
preservation
4 Actions and activities under These actions and activities are direct towards
preservation are not direct to what is what is being conserved.
being conserved.
5 Action under preservation will This a reflections of the decisions taken during
determine the success or failure of preservation.
actions under conservation.
6 Actors here require managerial Actors here required operational expertise
expertise

WEEK TWO: IMPORTANCE OF PRESERVATION AND CONSERVATION IN

LIBRARY AND INFORMATION CENTRES

Many reasons have been provided as to the benefits of preservation and conservation of
library and information centres resources. This list might not be exhaustive however, the
following are the importance of preservation and conservation in library and information centres.

Importance of preservation and conservation

1. It helps to improve the ability of library and information centres to meet the demand of
their users
2. It helps to ensure that library materials survive and stand the test of time
 3. It is a cost effective way of running the library and information centres
4. It helps to prolong the usefulness and value of library and information centres resources
5. It helps the library to buy more by saving them the cost of replacement of damage
materials
6. It helps to safeguard and ensure the continuity of the cultural heritage of people
7. It helps to promote the green culture as library materials remain in circulation for a long
period of time
8. It helps to improve the depth of library and information centres collections and access
9. It ensures that rich and useful information materials are made available for teaching and
learning of people

Aspects of preservation in the library and information centres

▪ Policy
▪ Security
▪ Structure/environmental monitoring
▪ Installation of facilities
▪ User education
▪ Insurance
▪ Disaster planning/preparedness
▪ Preservation training and education
▪ Funding
▪ Avoidance of food items into the library
▪ Provision of exit doors
▪ Fumigation
▪ Weeding
▪ Regular dusting culture/bush clearing, etc.

Aspects of conservation

▪ Repair of worn-out
▪ Lamination
▪ Photocopying
▪ Deacidification
 ▪ Encapsulation
▪ Binding
▪ Dusting off/re-arrangement
▪ Putting curtain blinds/bulb fittings etc.

WEEK THREE: PAPER AND PAPER PERMANENCE

Since the advent of writing, thoughts, ideas and history has been communicated through several
media. These media include: clay tablets, papyrus, animal skin, leather, rocks and bark of trees,
parchments, paper and in digital means.

However, since the discovery of paper, documentation of ideas has been made confortable. This
is because paper provides the cheapest possibilities, it is readily available and capable of
retaining a larger amount of information from all the formerly invented writing media.
Undoubtedly, the information Age has witness the mass volume of information production via
the electronic means, this however, has not remove the significance and value of paper being a
medium of information communication. In fact, many of the information produced in digital
formats are in most cases duplicated in paper form as many users still prefers to have handy their
information, paper also enable information filing, presentation, distribution as the case may
require and for information storage.

It must be noted that out of all the medium of written communication, paper presents the easiest
and the most convenient way of documenting ideas. It also gives room for multiple copies of a
particular information.

Characteristics of paper

1. It is made from wood

2. Paper has smooth surface
3. It has the ability to absorb ink
4. It has the ability to absorb water
5. A good paper is opaque (light cannot pass through it)
6. It contains acidic contents
 7. Paper is inflammable
8. It is foldable and squeezable
9. It can be cut into different sizes
10. Paper can brittle

Paper making process

Paper is made from wood. There are two types of wood, hard and soft wood. The wood
irrespective of the type has four distinctive parts. They are bark, lignin, hemicellulose and
cellulose.

Indicators:

Black part --- Lignin

White part --- Hemi-cellulose

Blue part ---- Cellulose

⇒ Paper can be made through the mechanical or chemical processes. Mechanically, when a
tree is cut down, the barks are removed and the tree chopped into logs (with cutlass or a
machine). The logs are then grinded into sawdusts/pulps before other processes begin. It
must be noted that the inner part of the wood which is the lignin is damaged and
shortened during the mechanical grinding of the log but paper made through this process
are though small in quantity but they are stronger than those dissolved through chemical
solution (Alkaline paper pH 7.5-9.5).
 ⇒ Chemical method: after the tree is cut down, it is cut into logs (with cutlass or a
machine). The logs are heated under great pressure in a chemical solution to form pulps.
This process is economical and ensured that the lignin is protected and not damaged.
Paper is produced in large quantity through this process with less difficulty. However,
these paper are not as strong as those produced through the mechanical means (Acidic
paper pH 7.0)

After the pulps has been made. The next stage is pressing the pulps on a machine to a smooth
sheet. The sheet is later dried up and a chemical called “Clay” is added to fill up the holes in the
sheet. The chalk is afterwards added to make the paper opaque. The sheet is afterwards sized up
with Rosin to enable it absorb little liquid. Later, Alum is added to give the paper a white colour.
Starch is afterwards added to give the paper strength and not to break. Dyes can be added at this
stage to bring different desirable colours out of the paper. At the last stage, the paper is cut into
different sizes as demanded of users.

Some permanence factors of paper

1. Permanence of wood
2. Permanence of ink
3. Permanence of chemicals
4. Permanence of writing information and communication
5. Permanence of information storage

Why print materials

⇒ Not everything is online

⇒ Materials online are not always free
⇒ Materials online are not always accurate
⇒ Ease of use
⇒ Owner versus access
⇒ Archiving
⇒ Potent for conveying evidence of actions/transactions
WEEK FOUR: DETERIORATION AND AGENTS OF DETERIORATION

This is a challenge for the library and information centres. It is a natural phenomenon just as
aging is an inevitable factor of any living organisms. Deterioration is inevitable occurrence in
any library or information irrespective of the location or the formats of information resources
kept in them. The effect of deterioration is unavoidable on both print and non-print information
resources as they are being faced with agents that could cause their deterioration. As modern or
electronic information resources are faced with environmental reactions on them, while the paper
based/print information resources are faced with some inherent factors introduced into them
during manufacture as well as the challenges that emanate from their heavy use by people.

The collections in library and information centres can be classified into traditional information
resources which include: books, journal, maps, drawings, paintings, encyclopedia, dictionaries,
newspapers and periodicals; and modern information resources which can include: CD-ROMs,
audio-visual materials, e-books, e-journals, e-thesis and dissertations, DVDs, computer
systems/file, internet , tapes, databases, optical materials, discs, digital storage media, 3D
objects, microfiches, microfilms, films, sound and video recordings and communication gadgets.

Harvey (1993) identifies two categories of actions on library information resources which
accelerate their quick deterioration: those that are caused by some inherent instability/production
factors of the materials and those caused by actions external to the material.

What is deterioration?

▪ Deterioration is a change of the original state of any material by the interaction between
the object and factors of destruction.
▪ It is a process by which an object gradually becomes impaired or inferior in quality,
functioning or condition.
▪ It is the gradual loss of quality in any library and information resources which decreases
its ability to carry out its intended function.
 ▪ Deterioration is when information resources lose its original value to a point where they
can no longer fulfill their intended use.
Examples of deterioration of paper-based information resources are wear and tear, fading
of paper, broken spine of print materials, surface blemishes, shrinkage, cracks,
brittleness, warping, bio-infestation, discoloration, abrasion, hole, dust, dirt
accumulation, cracking and scratching of sound and optical discs.

Causes of deterioration

Deterioration can be caused by two factors: internal and external factors

A. Internal factors: These are inherent factors introduced in the information resources
during the process of production. During the course of production of information
materials especially paper, many agents are reagents are introduced into paper. Forrde
and Rhys-Lewis (2013) confirm this position by noting that the difficulties encountered
in the preservation and conservation of modern paper result from the additives used in the
manufacturing process. Alum (i.e. potassium aluminum sulphate, KAI (SO4)2) is used to
harden the size and reduces the drying time but leads to more acidic paper. Aluminum is
also introduced into paper to fill up holes and to ensure a smooth surface in paper, this
also increase the reaction in paper. Dyes and inks are added in paper to produce different
paper colour and to create lines in paper respectively. They also affect the effect of agent
of deterioration in paper. Finally, paper are bond with adhesives and glues, this is an
attraction for pest and insects. Examples of internal deterioration.
▪ Oxidation: This is caused by the decay or pollution in the air which affects all
organic materials. However, if materials are stored in a good condition, the
oxidation action is slowed down. Oxidation pollutants includes: ozone (this is
created in electro-plastic copying), sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide. This is
noticeable in still and motion pictures as well as microfilms as it leaves a redox
blemishes or red spot on them.
▪ Acidic content in materials: Many acidic sediments are deposited in paper while
making it. There are two ways of making paper: the mechanical and the
chemical. During the chemical process wood pulp are heated and various
 chemicals are added to make a costless and fine paper. Chemicals like bleach,
clay or chalk, aluminum, inks to make colours, for designs as well as to draw
lines in paper. All these substances add some bits of acid sediments in paper.
▪ Fugitive dyes: These are certain pigments used in ink, water-based paint, textile
dyes, photographics dyes etc. Fugitive dyes also contain acid/chemicals and
they fade or change in time.
B. External Factors

These are factors outside the information materials. They are not in the composition of the
materials but are factors brought about in the environment of the library or information
resources, the biological agents in the environment as well as the activities of man. External can
be sub-grouped into three categories.

1. Environmental factors: these factors are related with the climate or micro-climate of the
area where the information resources are kept.
a. Humidity and temperature: the greatest single factors of deterioration of information
materials in Nigeria are mostly humidity and temperature. Humidity is the amount of
water in a volume of air expressed as the percentage of the maximum amount of
water the air could hold at the same temperature. When the temperature is high, then
there is a high level of water in the air and the amount of water held up in the air
reduces when the temperature is low. All these changes add up to damages in paper.
It is important that information resources are not subjected to extreme temperature or
humidity as both if not checked could increase the rate of deterioration.
b. Light: high level of natural or artificial lights cause fading of paper. The sun and
electric bulbs emit magnetic currents, ultra-violet ray and blue-violet ray respectively.
These rays can cause a change of colour of paper. It must be noted that photocopying
as an act of preserving information resources also can cause damage in the resources.
If a particular resource is heavily photocopied, it is exposed to an intensity of ultra-
rays from the photocopying machine which can cause damage in the paper. It is
advisable that the library filters the rays of the electric bulbs or use window binds to
cover the library windows to prevent direct lighting on the materials.
 c. Pollution: Atmospheric pollutions especially sulphur dioxide and nitrous oxides
which are produced by internal combustion of engines, furnaces, power stations and
many industrial processes which are powered by fossil fuels (coal and oil) may cause
accelerated acid deterioration in paper.
d. Dust and Dirt: This may cause disfigurement of documents or even lead to abrasion
of the materials that the paper is composed of. These may even increase the effects of
molds, fungi in paper and can easily attract micro-organisms to information
documents.
e. Flood, fire and tempest: these are natural disasters that can arise from the location of
the library or information centre. It could also be the effect of the metrological events
or arising from internal or external factors such as wide fire, accidental fire, flood,
cyclone, earthquakes, tempest, burst pipes or water reservoir.
2. Biological factors: These include the living agents created by nature. They are micro-
biological agents (Fungi, Algae, protozoa, Amoeba, Molds, Mildew, Bacteria), Insects
(Cockroaches, White-ants, Silver-fish, Termites, Booklice, Spiders, Bookworm, Beetles,
etc), Rodents/animals (Rats, Birds and Snakes)
a. Micro-organisms: These organisms cannot be seen with the physical eyes but
through the use of a device calls microscope. Their actions are accelerated by the
environment agents like humidity and temperature/heat. They even grow and
reproduce more in such conditions. These burrow into books, make holes in them and
many attack the glue and adhesives used to bind books.
b. Insects: They feed upon the organic components of information documents and
information materials.
c. Animals: They have access into the library or information centres through unblocked
openings. They are most in the library to seek shelter. They use information materials
to make their homes or merely fouling them. Rats and rodents excrement is
unpleasant and corrosive to paper materials. These excrements also serve as food for
fungi and moulds which may also attack paper.
3. Man: Man as the custodian of information can also act at some points as an agent of
deterioration to information resources. Some activities of man that can cause demage to
information materials include: tearing, careless handling, mutilation, theft, bad shelving,
 defacing, vandalism, undue book strains or strain on book spine, folding of paper, using
makers and ink on paper, bad storage among others.

WEEK FIVE: PREVENTIVE CONSERVATION

Conservation is a direct activity to forestall damage and retain the normal condition of library
materials. By preventive conservation, we mean all actions taken and done to avoid the
conservation process in the first place. Preventive conservation has been discovered to be a wise
and a cost effective way of dealing with preservation and conservation problems in library and
information centres. It is all actions taken to provide protection to library and information
materials against the agents of deterioration and destruction.

Preventive conservation is concerned with creating an ideal environment and situation for library
resources to put them beyond the reach of harmful agents. Preventive conservation includes:
attitude, monitoring, structure, installations, direct physical protection and environmental control.

Attitude/training

⇒ User education
⇒ Giving rewards
⇒ Punishment
⇒ Staff training (staff can be trained on each type of disaster response, they can be trained
on alarm system, safe site evacuation, type of potential disaster. The training can yearly,
when new staff are recruited or when new equipment are acquired)
⇒ Avoidance of deviant acts
⇒ Good user/staff relationship
⇒ High user satisfaction

Monitoring

⇒ Creating library resources monitoring crew

 ⇒ Setting out monitoring timetable
⇒ Provision of equipment
⇒ Supervising the crew activities

Structure

⇒ Good location of the building

⇒ Proper layout of the surface area
⇒ Providing space
⇒ Ensuring good ventilation
⇒ Good house keeping
⇒ Fencing
⇒ Blocking holes
⇒ Provision of many emergency exit doors
⇒ Controlled lightening
⇒ Proper arrangement of shelves
⇒ Use of steel shelves

Installations

⇒ Installing a firewalls
⇒ Installation of mechanical resistance
⇒ Installation of thermometer
⇒ Installation of air conditioner
⇒ Security cameras
⇒ Movement detectors
⇒ Door locks

Direct physical protection

⇒ Dusting
 ⇒ Proper shelving
⇒ Good handling
⇒ Providing extra copies
⇒ Wrapping
⇒ Weeding
⇒ Fumigation

Environmental control

⇒ Proper drainage
⇒ Constant weeding
⇒ Good layout of the environmental structure
⇒ Location serenity

WEEK SIX: LIBRARY SECURITY MANAGEMENT

Library security management can be said to be mechanisms put in place by the library for the
protection of collections, equipment, furniture, personnel and to prevent unauthorized entry or
access that could be detrimental to the achievement of the library goals. it is an established fact
that providing adequate security for the holdings within a library is one of the crucial duties of
the library management. The management must provide a policy statement establishing and
explaining what constitute a crime in the library as well as the punishment for the crime.

Library security can be defined as all the possible prevention medium and processes made
available in the library to ensure maximum protection of the library’s’ collections. These are
deliberate actions and processes aimed at ensuring a secure situation for all that a library has.

Library security can also be viewed as a series of activities and system designed to prevent theft,
vandalism, intrusion and many other social vices of users of the library. It is no gainsaying that a
house left unprotected will be easily accessible to thieves. Therefore, the owner of the house has
a role to play to secure his house.
The library is supposed to be a growing organism but this principle can be fundamentally altered
if the library constantly faces security threats and if there are no mechanisms in place to forestall
and check these threats.

Some major forms of security threats in the library

⇒ Stealing of library books

⇒ Concealing information materials in clothes, bags and many more
⇒ Mutilating of books, tearing it off
⇒ Removing book jackets
⇒ Unauthorized movement of library resources out of the library when the security men are
not around
⇒ Conniving with library staff to steal materials from the library
⇒ Throwing books out of the library

Some reasons tendered by users for security breach in the library

⇒ Poverty
⇒ Availability of few copies of a particular resources
⇒ Poor security plans/measures in the library
⇒ Wrong belief and attitude
⇒ Staff weakness and tolerance
⇒ Lack of strategic warning against deviant acts in the library/user education
⇒ Willingness to commit crime
⇒ Getting back at the library/library staff for the perceived misbehaviour
⇒ Lack of photocopying services in the library
⇒ Selfishness among users
⇒ Operational hours and duration of borrowing
⇒ Lack theft consciousness and absence of regular stock taking
⇒ Larger user population compared with information resources
 ⇒ Broken societal, family values, improper user orientation, leaving offenders unpunished

Some security measures needed in the library

⇒ Using locks
⇒ Alarm
⇒ Parameter detector system
⇒ Interior detector system
⇒ Radiofrequency detector device in book
⇒ Using library identification devices (stamps, seals, codes)
⇒ Issuing of library pass/ access system
⇒ Strict supervision process
⇒ Restricting users access to some location
⇒ Restricting personal belonging to some location
⇒ Unannounced user searching
⇒ Expulsion of deviant users
⇒ Use of signs and location markers
⇒ Windows must be gauzed with iron to prevent entry
⇒ Periodic change of access code/methods/locks
⇒ Using security cameras
⇒ Ensuring users clocking in and out while using the library (sign in and out) among many
others.