Unternavigation

Prevention

Underground stacks that meet preservation guidelines, durable bindings, and protective packaging help the National Library (NL) keep its holdings in the best possible condition. Preventive measures also include raising awareness among users and putting in place a disaster plan.

Einbandarten — The NL uses a variety of bindings to conserve publications.

In most cases, the NL only has one hard copy of each document. This means the copy in the archive is also the one that gets used. We therefore attach great importance to optimum storage and careful handling of documents.

The two underground stacks provide ideal storage conditions for the NL’s more than six million documents. The temperature is maintained at a constant 18°C with a humidity level of 45% – perfect for storing paper. For photographic holdings there is an underground floor with a temperature of 13°C and humidity of 35%. Light levels are kept to an absolute minimum, while the levels of dust and pollutants are minimised through the use of filtration systems.

Bookbinding

All new acquisitions are sent to our in-house bookbinding service to be prepared for storage in the stacks. For works that are not in book or brochure form, we prepare a protective packaging. Publications that are not adequately protected by their original binding are sent to an external workshop to be fitted with a more durable replacement. Loose documents such as newspapers are also sent out to be bound into volumes.

Protective packaging

Some works require special packaging for safe storage and use. This is made of material that can withstand archive use and is normally standardised. In special cases, we also produce suitable packaging in-house.

Raising awareness

Conservation requirements also apply to use of the collections in the reading room, for exhibitions and during loans for home use. NL users are obliged to treat library documents with care.

Disaster plan

When water or fire damage occurs, the NL must take emergency measures to conserve its collections. To ensure the documents affected are made safe swiftly and effectively, we have put in place a disaster plan. The NL is the joint initiator and a partner of the Bern cultural institutions’ emergency network.