Book Preservation

Think about all the things that can happen to a library book! A brand-new hardback might look sturdy, but books are vulnerable to temperature, humidity, light, and pests, as well as wear and tear from regular handling—and they can be misplaced (or lost entirely) due to missing labels or identifying marks. Preservation is a key aspect of the behind-the-scenes work of librarians, both to repair damaged materials and to protect materials before they even hit the shelf.  

Each year, Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures and the American Library Association organize Library Preservation Week (April 27–May 3, 2025) to raise awareness about the importance of caring for and maintaining information resources. The items in this case show just a few methods that Swem Library has used over the years to make sure items from our library stacks remain accessible and available for generations to come.