PRESERVATION PROGRAM MANAGEMENT AT THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS: A CASE STUDY

Summary In November 1993 a long-range planning process was initiated to review the Preservation Directorate's mission, organization, and operation. Challenged by a charge to ‘do more with less’, Directorate staff were asked to identify the preservation needs of all the Library's collections, both rare and non-rare, and to recommend strategies that would address those needs. Six teams, all chaired by non-supervisory staff were formed. Information was gathered through a series of preservation ‘summit’ meetings and topic-specific focus sessions. The result of this work was a reorganization proposal to increase the level of attention given to the non-rare, general collections; to establish selection for preservation criteria; to increase attention given to environmental monitoring; and to provide career opportunities for lower level preservation staff. As a result of the study, the Preservation Directorate continues to provide conservation treatment for the most important materials in the Library's rare and s...