A joint resolution to establish a national policy on permanent papers.
PL 101-423 (S.J.Res.57), enacted 10/12/1990

104 STAT. 912 
PUBLIC LAW 101-423—OCT. 12, 1990 
Public Law 101-423 
101st Congress 
Joint Resolution 
Oct. 12, 1990 
To establish a national policy on permanent papers. 
[S.J. Res. 57] 
44 use 509 note. Whereas it is now widely recognized and scientifically demonstrated 
that the acidic papers commonly used for more than a century in 
documents, books, and other publications are self-destructing and 
will continue to self destruct; 
Whereas Americans are facing the prospect of continuing to lose 
national, historical, scientific, and scholarly records, including 
government records, faster than salvage efforts can be mounted 
despite the dedicated efforts of many libraries, archives, and 
agencies, such as the Library of Congress and the National Ar-
chives and Records Administration; 
Whereas nationwide hundreds of millions of dollars will have to be 
spent by the Federal, State, and local governments and private 
institutions to salvage the most essential books and other mate-
rials in the libraries and archives of government, academic, and 
private institutions; 
Whereas paper manufacturers can produce a sufficient supply of 
acid free permanent papers with a life of several hundred years, 
at prices competitive with acid papers, if publishers would specify 
the use of such papers, and some publishers and many university 
presses are already publishing on acid free permanent papers; 
Whereas most Government agencies do not require the use of acid 
free permanent papers for appropriate Federal records and 
publications; 
Whereas librarians, publishers, and other professional groups have 
urged the use of acid free permanent papers; 
Whereas even when books are printed on acid free permanent paper 
this fact is often not made faiown to libraries by notations in the 
book or by notations in standard bibliographic listings; and 
Whereas there is an urgent need to prevent the continuance of the 
acid paper problem in the future: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
Historic 
States of America in Congress assembled, 
^UIJSCS'' 
te 
SECTION 1. It is the policy of the United States that Federal 
note, 
records, books, and publications of enduring value be produced on 
acid free permanent papers. 
44 use 509 note. 
SEC. 2. The Congress of the United States urgently recommends 
that— 
(1) Federal agencies require the use of acid free permanent 
papers for publications of enduring value produced by the 
Grovemment Printing Office or produced by Federal grant or 
contract, using the specifications for such paper established by 
the Joint Committee on Printing; 
(2) Federal agencies require the use of archival quality acid 
free papers for permanently valuable Federal records and 
confer with the National Archives and Records Administration 
on the requirements for paper quality; 
49-139 O - 90 (423) 
PUBLIC LAW 101-423—OCT. 12, 1990 
104 STAT. 913 
(8) American publishers and State and local governments use 
acid free permanent papers for publications of enduring value, 
in voluntary compliance with the American National Standard; 
(4) all publishers, private and governmental, prominently 
note the use of acid free permanent paper in books, 
advertisements, catalogs, and standard bibliographic listings; 
and 
(5) the Secretary of State, Librarian of Congress, Archivist of 
the United States, and other Federal officials make known the 
national policy regarding acid free permanent papers to foreign 
governments and appropriate international agencies since the 
acid paper problem is worldwide and essential foreign materials 
being imported by our libraries are printed on acid papers. 
SEC. 3. The Librarian of Congress, the Archivist of the United 
Reports. 
States, and the Public Printer shall jointly monitor the Federal 
44 USC 509 note. 
Government's progress in implementing the national policy de-
clared in section 1 regarding acid free permanent papers and shall 
report to the Congress regarding such progress on December 31, 
1991, December 31,1993, and December 31,1995. In canying out the 
monitoring and reporting functions under this section, the Librarian 
of Congress, the Archivist of the United States, and the Public 
Printer may consult with the National Endowment for the Human-
ities, National Agricultural Library, National Library of Medicine, 
other Federal and State agencies, international organizations, pri-
vate publishers, paper manufacturers, and other organizations with 
an interest in preservation of books and historical papers. 
Approved October 12, 1990. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 
J. Res. 57 (H. 
J. Res. 226): 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 101-680, Pt. 1 accompanying H.J. Res. 226 (Ctomm. on 
Government Operations). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: 
Vol. 135 (1989): July 31, S.J. Res. 57 considered and passed Senate. 
Vol. 136 (1990): Sept. 17, H.J. Res. 226 considered and passed House; 
S.J. Res. 57, amended, passed in lieu. 
Sept. 26, Senate concurred in House amendments. 
WEEKLY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS, Vol. 26 (1990): 
Oct. 12, Presidential statement.