This document provides an overview of preservation and conservation for volunteers. It defines preservation as managing the environment an artifact is held in and conservation as directly treating the artifact. Preservation is important to halt deterioration and allow access while minimizing damage. Factors like temperature, humidity, light, and biological agents cause deterioration. Proper storage and handling (extrinsic) can control the effects of inherent material properties (intrinsic factors). The document recommends preventative techniques like good housekeeping, housing materials, and repairs to implement preservation. Education is also presented as a low-cost way to involve volunteers and raise awareness.

1. 9 Simple Steps for Volunteers to ‘Stay in the Loop’

2. What is preservation?
broader term concerned with the environment with which the artefact
or record is held, and its ongoing management
What is conservation?
narrower term involving a more intensive and direct approach on the
material itself
Why do we need them?
the main reason is simply because things deteriorate – and depending
on the material and storage / handling, this can take place very rapidly
The ‘preservation balancing act’
allowing users maximum access to information while minimising
deterioration inherent in providing this access

3. P&C is crucial to all information professions and professionals
To assist in its successful application we need the help of
volunteers and the public too
By halting the effects of deterioration we can preserve
important information and heritage for future generations
Also imperative for issues of authenticity, evidence, and
integrity
It is important to remember that:
everything we use has built-in deterioration factors
rate of deterioration is dependent on the type of material
deterioration is dependent on housing / handling conditions

4. Three major environmental effects are:
high temperature and relative humidity levels
advances chemical changes in materials
can weaken and compromise structure of materials
damage from light sources
UV light whether from the sun or artificial
biological agents
moulds
insects
vermin
We must also remember that these effects are not necessarily
mutually exclusive;
i.e. high temperature and RH produce conditions where biological agents
flourish

5. Handling and storage is the biggest issue with records of all types
We preserve materials so they can be used, but, paradoxically, use
results in damage
We typically do not have much control over how objects in the
collections of cultural institutions are made and what they are made
from – intrinsic factors
We do have more control over how objects are stored and how they
are handled – extrinsic factors
Extrinsic factors intensify intrinsic factors
Enclosures protect objects from the normal wear and tear of being
handled and stored

6. The first thing to work out is what are you trying to preserve?
preservation of artefact
storage environment
conservation treatments
training and awareness
preservation of content
conversion
With preservation you can implement different techniques:
preventative
primarily concerned with good housekeeping and looking after the environment
housing materials
restorative
repairing damage that has already occurred to an artefact
proactive
maintaining artefacts

7. Decisions can be made about which environmental factors are the most
important to attempt to control for a specific collection
An important aspect is also disaster preparedness
Collections can be more easily managed by dividing them into their broad
component characteristics:
organic
inorganic
composite or mixed
Objects made from inorganic materials are relatively unreactive to the
environmental conditions in which they are stored
Other relevant issues include:
risk of natural or mechanical disaster
vandalism or theft

8. Funding is always an issue – there is nothing cheap in preservation
This can particularly be an issue when dealing with small or locally
funded museums
Museums typically undertake long-term preservation of its items and
therefore this is an ongoing and ultimately costly undertaking
Decisions have implications for the management of the institution, for
its budgetary needs and commitments, for the services which it can
provide to its users, and for its need for facilities and systems
There are, however, a number of simple and cost-effective measures
that can be applied:
implement preventative and proactive preservation where possible
undertake preservation actions which address large quantities of material
it is essential to set priorities for resource allocation

9. Education represents a relatively low-cost preservation activity
Information professionals must now acknowledge that preservation is a
responsibility they all share, whatever their role in an organisation
In addition to the training of staff and volunteers, education programs
can be offered to the wider public and not only cover handling and
preservation methods, but create interest in the museum
Preservation is the responsibility of all, from the creators of the object
to the users of the object
All parties must advocate for preservation, including government
The costs of staff and volunteer training in minor repairs are minimal,
especially in comparison with full conservation techniques that may be
needed if damage is not prevented or left untreated

10. A perfect environment is not achievable
However, providing an environment that is achievable in relation to
a building’s structure, the local climate in which the building is
located, and available resources is highly desirable
Sustainability in museums is a pertinent topic and the need to
reduce the environmental impact of buildings also saves on running
costs
A new initiative is to create or convert structures into ‘positive
energy buildings’
Programs such as the harnessing of solar energy via solar cells is a
good place to stat

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