Why Preserve?

The word “preservation” is an umbrella term for activities, which are aimed at preventing deterioration. It differs from "conservation", which is the process of active intervention to prevent deterioration. The term "restoration", meaning recreating the original, is no longer favoured in contemporary archival practice. The importance which archives attach to the preservation aspect derives from the very nature of archival records. Archives provide unique evidence of past activities. They are irreplaceable.

Preservation is expensive but it is much cheaper than having to send large proportions of the holdings for repair or restoration. There is always a limit to the investment in financial and human resources one can make in conservation. Thus, it is wiser for archival repositories to take all measures possible for good housekeeping and basic preservation measures to avoid long term damage.

The issue of access is also directly related to preservation. Most European governments are currently formulating policies targeted at people at risk of social exclusion and the issue of access for all is very fashionable. Only good preservation policies can ensure that documents remain accessible to all and are available to present and future generations.