Blog 5: Preservation and conservation

 Yesterday's class allowed us to reflect on two basic yet powerful words in the world of archives: preservation and conservation. The line between these two disciplines can be thin, and in many cases, archivists transition between them without feeling a significant difference. However, both terms refer to distinct subjects.

"Preservation" refers to the protection of archival materials. It aims to reduce chemical and physical deterioration to minimize information loss and thereby extend the life of cultural materials.

On the other hand, conservation is the discipline that deals with archival material that has suffered some form of deterioration or damage. In many cases, it is necessary to employ chemical and physical techniques to ensure the restoration of materials as closely as possible to their original form. This work requires training in functions that are sometimes very different from the typical duties of archivists, including knowledge of chemistry, paper techniques, ink, binding, and more. If a document, for example, has suffered significant damage, it may be necessary to involve conservators outside the regular archive staff. However, if the damage is minor, the archivist often has the opportunity to carry out the restoration process on-site.

Of these two concepts, I consider preservation to be the more important one because a well-preserved document will clearly not require restoration, thus preserving its original integrity.

For this reason, it is necessary to consider fundamental measures in the area of preservation. During the class yesterday, we reviewed the most relevant macro-level preservation measures, including:

• Appropriate temperature and humidity levels.

• Training of archive personnel in document handling.

• A pest-free environment.

• Adequate budget for storage supplies.

Following these macro-level guidelines can help mitigate the risks posed by external elements such as air pollution, mold and moisture, excessive heat and light, as well as rodents or other insects.

Lastly, humans can be the most dangerous element when it comes to the proper preservation of materials. This ranges from mishandling of archives to theft or removal of materials, which, once outside the physical space of the archive, may disappear forever.