This is a complicated and multi-faceted task, as it presumes shifting the emphasis towards preventive measures. In 1996, under the auspices of the RMC and the Russian Library Association, there was started the development of a nation-wide program with a view to preserve library collections. The work along several guidelines has already been started. Therefore, in case the document in question is damaged, destroyed, and can be irreparably lost, all other questions related to preservation with the entire diversity of its aspects will appear senseless. The priorities age given to the conservation methods allowing for a maximum increase in preservation for the maximum number of documents with the conservator's minimum possible intervention in the document structure.
Storage conditions are the basis of preservation.
It is the storages that have to become the focal point of attention for the Russian library administrations at all levels. The mass stabilization looks preferable large-scale as a more efficient approach applicable to most documents to be kept eternally or sufficiently long. There are no equipment for mass stabilization in Russia despite existing foreign experience and domestic studies. The introduction of mass stabilization so as the increase of the productivity and efficiency of new mechanized restoration technologies will significantly reduce the need of effort-consuming manual restoration. Reality and the existing problems Development of preventive conservation along with modernized stabilization and restoration can result solely from the improvements introduced in the already existing restoration centers and launching new ones, specializing in the country's eastern areas.