In the use of a standard it is important that the user is familiar with the subject in question, thus being able to relate the information and the circumstances to each other. In particular, standards and other publications must not be used as the sole source of information about conservation techniques. Seek advice from experts and practitioners in the field before trying to conserve any document. Much protection can be offered by ensuring that documents are stored in appropriate containers, are not subject to fluctuations of temperature and relative humidity and are handled with care. Specialist treatment is available for all types of document, from the most ancient to the most recent, and professional advice should be sought from appropriate museums, libraries and archives before undertaking any work on them.
Specific advice is also often available in the standards quoted.
Standards are very important, but unfortunately standards often become modified by users after some time which can make the standard out-dated and even impede the easy exchange of information. However, many countries have developed their own national version and this makes the exchange of bibliographic records more difficult. The documents in the archives and libraries of the world are indispensable sources for many scholarly disciplines. No evaluation of politics, history, everyday life, music and performing arts would be possible without these documents. Information should be available to all people as freely and as easily as possible.