Preserving the Collections of the Science and Technology Research Center of the New York Public Library

Abstract

The collections of the Science and Technology Research Center, a unit of The New York Public Library's Research Libraries, are described. The collections are estimated to contain 1.2 million volumes. Causes of deterioration and the administrative context of preservation planning are presented. Past and current efforts to preserve the collections, which are composed largely of little-used publications, are delineated. Planning for the future includes reintegration of the collections which are now housed in two separate locations at a major new facility to be located at the Library's West 43rd Street Annex, initiation to a systematic collections cleaning, refurbishing and repair program, and a stepped-up preservation microfiliming program in cooperation with other research libraries in the nation.