Survey data informs the development and refinement of preservation programs and policies, and provides evidence critical for establishing preservation priorities.
Random samples are useful for assessing the condition of large collections.
An appropriate sample size and the use of random selection ensure statistically sound analysis and meaningful conclusions. Random sample surveys make it possible to develop condition profiles of library collections that would otherwise be impossible to evaluate. Item-level condition surveys require that a conservator examine each item in a collection and record its physical condition. Typically, other physical features are also documented, such as the binding structures of books or the nature of inks in manuscript materials. Item-level surveys are most often reserved for small, discrete collections of rare or special materials.