Preserving originals
Restoration, book repairs and paper deacidification are the measures the Swiss National Library uses to preserve the original documents in its collections.
Conservation and book repairs
In accordance with our preservation guidelines, we focus on preventive measures for entire collections rather than on the conservation and repair of individual items. Where necessary, originals are conserved or repaired using minimal intervention. The aim is to ensure that the items remain usable, rather than to conserve them to their original condition. The work is documented in a report. We carry out partial conservation and simple repairs to damaged items in-house; more complex conservation work is carried out externally.
Paper deacidification
Many papers from the period between 1850 and 1980 have a high acid content due to the production process and therefore become brittle over time. The acids are neutralised and rendered harmless with the help of paper deacidification, a mass treatment in large-scale technical facilities.
The NL had its acidic documents deacidified in the ‘papersave swiss’ plant in Wimmis near Spiez between 2000 and 2014. 1.2 million documents (483 tonnes, 13.7 linear kilometres) underwent this treatment, extending their life expectancy by at least a factor of four. In this way, the NL ensures the usability of the documents for future generations. The NL checks and documents the sustainability of this measure in a long-term monitoring programme.
Swiss National Library
Hallwylstrasse 15
3003 Bern