Collection Assessment and Survey An assessment of your collection is generally the first step. The survey will inform you about the materials you have, how they are presently stored and make recommendations about the types of actions you can take. It will help you set priorities for your program. Collection Management Collection management refers to the way your collection is organized and how you take care of it. Consultants in this area may look at the system you use for describing your collection, how you keep track of it, how it is stored, whether it is used and if so how is the work accessed, and what procedures you have in place for preservation.
Storage is critical.
An environmental survey will provide you with detailed technical specifics of the physical environment in which your materials are stored, including temperature and humidity fluctuations, air quality, whether there are impurities and pollutants in the air which could damage your tapes, and what types of shelving you are currently using. Recommendations are based on the results of environmental monitoring of your storage facility. Cataloging is the system of arranging and describing the collection. Your present system should be evaluated and analyzed in terms of such issues as compatible cataloging, which will allow you to share information with other organizations. To initiate and maintain your preservation program you will need to develop a long-term plan that identifies the resources you can commit to the project.