Preservation encompasses the activities which prolong the usable life of archival records. Preservation activities are designed to minimize the physical and chemical deterioration of records and to prevent the loss of informational content. The preservation staff at NARA works together with NARA archivists to preserve the permanently valuable records of the Federal Government. NARA's Research and Testing Laboratory analyzes materials to assure that they are stable before they are used at the National Archives. Conservation is one component of a preservation program.
Conservation comprises the examination, documentation, and treatment of records.
Conservators perform treatments which preserve records in their original format. Treatment documentation is important because it provides information to future archivists and conservators about what was done to records in the past. Conservation is a dynamic and developing field. Conservators perform research on materials and techniques, participate in continuing education programs, and follow the Code of Ethics of the American Institute for Conservation . Bellardo, Lewis J. and Bellardo, Lynn Lady, A Glossary for Archivists, Manuscript Curators, and Records Managers , The Society of American Archivists, Chicago, 1992.