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.