Preservation is the use of passive, non-interventative measures for the protection of an archive: not to alter physically the fabric of the archive by the use of chemicals or repair techniques.
This is achieved by providing:
- environmentally controlled strongrooms where the temperature and humidity is stable, in accordance with the requirements of the 'Recommendations for the Storage and Exhibition of Archival Documents' (BS 5454), 2000
- appropriate storage facilities in accordance with BS 5454 which sets standards for shelf constructions, size etc
- suitable packaging materials, eg acid-free boxes and wrapping paper
- implementing a surrogacy policy for the most heavily used archives.
Surrogacy is defined as the replacement of an archive with a copy, while retaining the original, thereby preserving the original and providing easier or greater access to it. The main series of records dealt with in this way are parish registers. Find out more about which parish registers are available at Nottinghamshire Archives and Libraries on our Finding aids pages.
