Threats to Collections
Environmental threats Threats to library collections can be obvious, but some are invisible to the eye, with damage occurring gradually over the course of several generations. When the damage does finally become visible, it is often irreversible, and cannot be repaired. There are a number of preservation strategies to address a range of threats.
When handling collections:
- Handle with clean and dry hands.
- Remove a book from the shelf by grasping the midlength of its spine after pushing in the two neighboring books on either side.
- Turn pages carefully so as not to crease or tear the paper.
- Do not write in library books. Ink notations cannot be removed, and pencil cannot be erased without abrading paper fibers, potentially erasing printed text.
- Do not use sticky notes in books. They seem benign, but they can tear pages and even lift ink off the page when they are removed.