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Fact Sheet
Preservation and Collection Management Program

In response to its mandate to preserve and provide access to the biomedical literature, the National Library of Medicine (NLM) has developed an extensive preservation program.  Elements of the program include:

Preservation

  • Reformatting fragile and deteriorated materials
  • Binding
  • Book repair and conservation
  • Disaster prevention, emergency response and recovery for collections
  • Environmental monitoring of collection areas
  • Preserving digital formats

Collection Management

  • Stacks maintenance
  • Collection security
  • Journal Donation Program
  • Collection inventories
  • Space planning

Reformatting Program

As a partner in the Medical Heritage Library project funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, NLM is digitizing U.S. imprints published through 1865.  The Library also has digitized the back files of ninety journals (1.2 million articles) in PubMed Central® (PMC).  For more information, see:  www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/about/scanning.html.  NLM reformats motion pictures and videos that are of historical value and in deteriorating condition or in formats that are becoming obsolete.

From 1986 to 2007, the Library microfilmed approximately 105,000 volumes of serials and monographs that were printed on deteriorated paper.  Within copyright restrictions, the Library permits purchase of microfilm copies of the titles it has filmed.  For order information, consult the Microfilm Sales Program Fact Sheet http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/factsheets/microflm.html.

Library Binding

NLM contractors prepare and bind approximately 20,000 serial and monograph volumes per year. Preservation and Collection Management staff members work closely with the contractors to ensure that preservation quality standards are met.

Conservation and Book Repair

NLM has a long-standing program for the conservation of valuable materials in its History of Medicine Division (HMD) collection. The library has an on-site lab for repair of volumes from the general collection and treatment of historical print and photographic materials.

Collections Emergency Prevention, Response and Disaster Recovery

The library has a comprehensive plan for protecting the collection and salvaging materials should they become damaged by flood or fire. Staff have been assigned to teams and trained in collection recovery procedures. An extensive collection of disaster supplies and equipment is kept on hand. The plan is evaluated periodically and appropriate steps are taken to mitigate risks to stored materials. The response and salvage procedures are part of the Library's Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP).

Environmental Monitoring

Maintaining stable cool and dry conditions in storage areas is the single most effective way to ensure the longevity of library collections. NLM has placed temperature and relative humidity measuring equipment throughout the stacks and monitors conditions at all times.

Journal Donation Program

The Journal Donation Program is designed to encourage libraries to donate print journals, indexes, and other serials they no longer wish to retain.  DOCLINE libraries may use the web-based system found at www.nlm.nih.gov/journaldonation/ to find out what NLM needs. Non-DOCLINE libraries should contact NLM for instructions. To donate pre-1871 journal volumes to the History of Medicine Division, see  http://www.nlm.nih.gov/hmd/about/donate.html. To contact the Journal Donation Program, please call (301) 496-0081 or send an email to NLMJournalDonation@mail.nih.gov

Preserving Digital Formats

PubMed Central is NLM’s digital archive of life sciences journal literature in electronic form. See www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/about/intro.html. NLM's digital repository http://collections.nlm.nih.gov/muradora/welcome.jsp contains other collection materials in electronic form. The Library also has developed a system of permanence ratings that indicate to users whether the location, content or availability of resources on NLM’s main web site are subject to change and created an online archive for permanent NLM web site resources that have become outdated.

Collection Management

NLM staff and contractors shelve and shelf read the collection, identify and resolve problems with missing or damaged materials, oversee collection security procedures, process gift volumes, conduct collection inventories, analyze space needs and develop plans to accommodate collection growth.

Revised March 28, 2011

For further information please contact:

Preservation and Collection Management Section
National Library of Medicine
Rm B1E21
8600 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD 20894
Phone: (301) 496-8124
Fax: (301) 435-2922

Email:   PRES@NLM.NIH.GOV

For general information on NLM services, contact:

National Library of Medicine
Customer Service
8600 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD 20894
Telephone: 1-888-FINDNLM (1-888-346-3656)
email: http://ww.nlm.nih.gov/contacts/contact.html
NLM Customer Service Form at  http://apps.nlm.nih.gov/mainweb/siebel/nlm/index.cfm

A complete list of NLM Fact Sheets is available at:
(alphabetical list) http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/factsheets/factsheets.html
(subject list): http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/factsheets/factsubj.html

Or write to:

FACT SHEETS
Office of Communications and Public Liaison
National Library of Medicine
8600 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, Maryland 20894

Phone: (301) 496-6308
Fax: (301) 496-4450
email: publicinfo@nlm.nih.gov