Practical Experience with the Survey of the Physical Condition of Library Collections in the National Library of the Czech Republic over the Last Twelve Years

Pages	156–161
DOI	10.37520/amnpsc.2022.036
Keywords	library collection – survey – database – conservation – preservation
Type of Article	Miscellanea
Citation	VÁVROVÁ, Petra, NEORALOVÁ, Jitka a NOVOTNÁ, Dana. Practical Experience with the Survey of the Physical Condition of Library Collections in the National Library of the Czech Republic over the Last Twelve Years. Acta Musei Nationalis Pragae – Historia litterarum. Prague: National Museum, 2022, 67(3-4), 156–161. DOI: https://doi.org/10.37520/amnpsc.2022.036. ISSN 2570-6861 (Print), 2570-687X (Online). Also available from: https://www.nm.cz/en/periodicals/acta-musei-nationalis-pragae-historia-litterarum/67-3-4/practical-experience-with-the-survey-of-the-physical-condition-of-library-collections-in-the-national-library-of-the-czech-republic-over-the-last-twelve-years

Acta Musei Nationalis Pragae – Historia litterarum | 2022/67/3-4

The poor physical condition of paper carriers, not only books but especially older newspapers and magazines, significantly limits their use by the readership and, in the event of their disintegration, leads to an irreplaceable loss of part of the national cultural heritage. The reduced lifespan of manufactured materials, their lower mechanical resistance and frequent visual changes prevent interlibrary loan, limit user copying, and, most importantly, reduce the ability of curators of library collections to retain such damaged documents for future generations or at least until they are digitised. A survey of the physical condition of the collections is the first step in planning the activities of the preservation and conservation of large collections and holdings. It makes it possible to evaluate the most endangered parts of the collection and to plan the sequence of individual interventions for the stabilisation of library collections. The paper presents the survey procedure on the example of the collections of the National Library of the Czech Republic, the form of recording and the possibilities of implementation.

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