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…

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…

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)

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

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…

This paper describes the cataloging, shelf arrangement, and preservation of Wayne State University's Eloise Ramsey collection of children's books. It also outlines Wayne State's efforts to consolidate the collection and to make it accessible to the public. (FM)

Describes activities of Library of Congress Music Division's Music Preservation Microfilming Project originated in 1970. Current and upcoming filming projects are noted, including Brahms' original music manuscripts (holographs) and correspondence; Liszt holographs, correspondence, and first editions; piano-vocal scores and librettos of Victor…

This discussion of the oral history and oral tradition of Africa covers the nature of oral archives, theoretical objections to validity of oral tradition and oral history as historical sources, value of oral archives for African countries, accessibility of oral archives, and strategies for improved access. Footnotes are provided. (EJS)

This paper traces the development of the National Library of Canada's newspaper collection in conjunction with the Decentralized Program for Canadian Newspapers. The paper also presents a sampling from the collection in order to illustrate the rich variety of the press that has followed in the footsteps of Fleury Mesplet, one of the first printers…

Profile of the Rare Book and Special Collections Division of the Library of Congress--which houses one of the world's greatest collections of rare books--includes a brief history, acquisitions, library services and users, processing and preservation of rare books, and the library's mission. (EJS)

Provides a brief history of Japanese-Canadian newspapers published in pre-WWII Vancouver. Describes the collection held by the University of British Columbia and the microfilming initiatives undertaken to preserve the collection. Specifications and information on availability of the microform editions are given. (JKP)

Provides an overview of science fiction titles in print and discusses the value of science fiction as a literary form. Specific titles are included, and the need for formats designed for permanent preservation in libraries is discussed. (EAM)

The New York Public Library's preservation and conservation activities during the last three decades that are discussed include environmental control systems, collection use, binding, deacidification, microphotography, and cooperative microfilming. A list of 32 references is included. (CHC)

Describes a project to preserve the pre-Revolutionary Russian periodicals collection of the New York Public Library's Slavonic Division. Progress in this project, microform preservation considerations, and cataloging of the collection are discussed. (21 references) (MES)