By Melissa Bernstein for the Faust Library Blog –
April 22-28, 2018 is Preservation Week, an initiative of the Association for Library Collections & Technology Services (ALCTS), a division of the American Library Association (ALA). It is a time to focus on and take action to preserve our collections and artifacts. You can read more about Preservation Week here.
Preservation Fast Facts
- More than 4.8 billion artifacts are held in public trust by more than 30,000 archives, historical societies, libraries, museums, scientific research collections, and archaeological repositories in the United States. 1.3 billion of these items are at risk of being lost.
- Roughly 70% of institutions need additional conservation or preservation training for their staff and volunteers.
- A majority of collecting institutions, more than 80%, do not have a disaster plan in place that can be executed by trained staff.
- Nearly a quarter of all the 21 million paintings, sculptures, and works of decorative art in U.S. collections need conservation treatment or improved care and conditions.
- More than 50% of collecting institutions have had their collections damaged by light.
- More than 65% of collecting institutions report damage to their collections due to improper storage.