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may also perform paper mending using Japanese tissue and wheat starch paste—techniques

that combine strength with delicacy.

Sometimes, where restoration is impossible, surrogate creation (producing high-quality

facsimiles or microforms) may be adopted. Although not preserving the original, these
substitutes fulfill the access requirement while protecting the original from further damage.

Also, disaster preparedness planning—including fire drills, waterproof containers, and

emergency recovery kits—is both a preventive and curative framework. Knowing how to act
in the event of a water leak or a mold outbreak can make the difference between losing and

saving hundreds of documents.

Thus, preservation and curative actions are technical, policy-driven, and infrastructure-

dependent. They are best undertaken in consultation with conservation experts and
implemented according to globally recognized standards such as those set by IFLA, UNESCO,

and national archives.

Prolonging the Lifespan of Library Materials

All these strategies—be they preventive, routine, or curative—ultimately aim to prolong the

lifespan of library materials, making sure knowledge remains accessible to future

generations. Absent such practices, libraries risk becoming graveyards of knowledge, their
collections fading into dust and silence.

Effective preservation prolongs the physical life of documents and their intellectual and
cultural relevance. Well-maintained collections support continuity of research, enable

educational enrichment, and uphold the library’s mission as a permanent information
repository.

Preservation practices also promote economic sustainability. Replacement of lost or damaged

materials is often costlier than preventing damage. In academic and special libraries, where
rare books or archival records are irreplaceable, preservation becomes a matter of institutional

heritage and legal responsibility.

Equally, libraries that invest in preservation signal professional integrity and attract funding,

partnerships, and public trust. Digitized archives, climate-controlled repositories, and

conservation labs are not just technical assets—they are symbols of a library's long-term
vision.

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