Preservation and conservation principles will be integrated into all units in the Libraries in order to prolong the life and usefulness of UNLV Libraries materials. It is the only such facility in the State of Nevada, and one of very few in the country.
Preservation is an indirect method of treatment in which the environment around an item is changed.
This includes stabilizing, maintaining, and monitoring temperature, humidity, light exposure, air pollution, dirt, dust, and mold. Conservation is a direct method of treatment in which an item is physically or chemically changed. This includes cleaning, deacidifying, repairing, rebinding, and reformatting. All conservation treatments entail the least intrusive methods possible, and use acid-neutral or buffered materials. Some materials, such as pastes, fungicides, and marbled papers, will be made in-house to ensure their quality.