Bookkeeper, a liquid-based mass deacidification technology, may help the Library of Congress win its war against acid damage in its paper collection. The process impregnates books with magnesium oxide particles that both neutralize the acid in paper and leave an alkaline buffer behind. Describes the problem of acidic degradation and the Bookkeeper…

Provides librarians and curators with guidelines for the proper storage and preservation of maps and plans. Eleven references are cited. (FM)

Describes a study of the problems encountered by library students in locating, collecting, recording, analyzing, and assessing oral testimonies in Nigeria. (FM)

Describes a project of the Center for Research Libraries to preserve its collection of U.S. ethnic newspapers in microform and to create a database of the material. (MES)

Discusses the history of the microform collections at the Library of Congress (LC), highlighting the exchange of microfilmed newspapers between LC and the Biblioteca Nacional, Brazil. Recent developments in preservation microfilming, LC's acquisition of microforms, and the activities of the LC Preservation Microfilming Office are described. (3…

Describes the restoration of the Corning Museum of Glass library collection after it had been submerged by flood waters. (PF)

Explains the need for accelerated deacidification practices at the Public Archives of Canada. Methods mentioned which prevent acid attack are aqueous and nonaqueous deacidification, gaseous deacidification solutions, and mass deacidification. The process of mass deacidification, developed at a pilot plant, is compared to workings of a refrigerator…

Recommends that public libraries be aware of the need to develop basic preservation policies in order to safeguard local treasures and to extend the life of the collection as a whole. The importance of cooperation is asserted in the light of limited budgets. A selected bibliography is included. (FM)

Discusses the potential loss of Catholic historical documents in weeding library collections in closing parishes, schools, religious residences, and colleges. Suggests ranking weedable materials; assigning responsibility for categories of material by format and subject area; contributing discarded periodicals to the Center for Research Libraries;…

Remarks on the relative permanence and durability of three types of film in use in library microform reproduction (silver, diazo, and vesicular) and points out some technical and economic facts that govern the choice of microform materials for libraries. A 6-item reference list is included. (Author/JL)

Discusses oral history interviews in terms of selection criteria, identification, storage conditions, and duplication. (CHC)

Outlines the major events, activities, projects, and publications that have contributed to the emergence of collection preservation as a field within librarianship. Seventy references are cited. (Author/FM)

Guidelines are presented for categorizing, documenting, and storing a historical videotape collection. Causes of videotape deterioration are discussed. (Contains three references.) (SLW)

Reviews the preservation literature of 1981, with specific sections devoted to general articles and literature guides, association activities, collection surveys, conferences and workshops, conservation techniques, deacidification, exhibits, grants, national and local programs, nonbook materials, and paper. A 135-item bibliography is included. (JL)

Highlights some of the skills and technological advances that have changed the way special collections are preserved in reference to two approaches: item-level conservation and collections conservation. Discusses mechanical paper splitting; computer imaging and mechanization; mass deacidification; controlling temperature, humidity, pests, and…