The present world is changing from the industrial world to the information world. It requires fast, accurate, organized and reliable information. People are beginning to know the value of information. A large amount of information is being generated every second all around the world. The information has become a raw material and a dominating factor in the process of decision making and execution. Information is and will be a primordial need for each individual in this world. Information is regarded as “Lifeblood of society” and a vital resource for national development.
On the other hand there are libraries with rare collections which are the treasures of local heritage. They reflect the heritage and culture of the society. The information in these libraries is in a variety of forms such as palm leaves, manuscripts, printed books, etc. Preservation requirements of these library holdings are obviously different from those of libraries established during the recent past. These libraries have the special responsibility of preserving heritage and culture as it is the duty of all library staff, from the head of the library down to the last worker at the bottom to safeguard, protect and preserve the holdings in their libraries. Preservation measures have to be endorsed supported and encouraged from the most senior level to the most junior in the library. Those who are responsible for managing the library and maintaining the external and internal fabric of the building need to work closely with those who are responsible for the preservation of the collections. Preservation needs of a library have to be considered in line with the social and political climate in which the organization operates. The organization’s purpose, collecting policies, and available resources also matter in preserving this wealth of resources.
This book makes an effort to educate all those who work in a library to properly take care of their collection, whether it is fast changing digital information or documentary and non documentary heritage.