Responsibilities
All parts of the National Library of Scotland's collections should be made available for present and future generations. The Preservation and Conservation division is responsible for developing and maintaining a comprehensive policy and strategy to preserve NLS collections.
Protective measures
We provide protective measures to ensure the safety and longevity of the collections during storage, exhibition, consultation and transportation within and outside NLS. To meet its responsibilities, the division maintains:
- A Conservation Unit, to apply remedial treatments to the more valuable items in the collections
- A Preservation Services Unit, to meet box-making, map mounting and miscellaneous repair needs
- A Reprographic Unit, providing an imaging service, including microfilming and digital imaging, to NLS users.
Positive action
Other areas in which NLS considers it important to apply positive action are:
- Storage environment
- Correct and safe storage of material
- Box-making
- Preservation awareness among staff and readers
- Availability of selected material in microform to reduce physical wear and tear
- Protection of selected material from the dangers of photocopying process
- Disaster control.
We also offer an advisory service to the library community in Scotland. This covers all matters concerning the preservation of library materials.