Safeguarding Heritage Assets: The Library of Congress Planning Framework for Preservation

The Library of Congress collections security program integrates four components-physical security, preservation, and bibliographic and inventory controls. The preservation provides the framework for identifying the Libraryʹs minimum standards for preservation controls required to preserve its analog collections for future generations. The preservation grid of standards is now fully integrated within the Libraryʹs overall security planning framework, across the five tiers of risk and five collection cycles. Preservation controls depicted in this framework are grouped in seven primary areas: environment, emergency preparedness, storage, handling, needs assessment, physical treatment, and reformatting.