Preservation (library and archival science)

Preservation is like trying to keep something in really good condition so it can last for a very, very long time. Think of it like trying to keep your favorite toy or dress clean and safe, but on a much bigger scale!

In library and archival science, preservation means taking care of books, papers, pictures, recordings, and other things that people want to keep for a long, long time. This is important because some of these things are really old, and we want to make sure they don't get damaged or destroyed so that other people can learn from them and enjoy them.

Preservation experts use special methods and tools to make sure that all of these things stay in good condition. For example, they might keep books and papers in a special room that's not too hot or too cold, and that's not too damp or too dry. They might also put old movies or recordings onto DVDs or other digital formats so that they don't get damaged over time.

Preservation experts also do things like repairing torn pages, cleaning dirty books, and getting rid of mold or other dangerous things that could hurt the things they're trying to protect. They might use special paper or plastic to wrap things up, and they might wear gloves to keep their hands from leaving oils or dirt on what they're touching.

All of these things might sound really simple, but they're actually really important to making sure that our history and our culture are preserved for a long, long time. After all, if we lose important books, papers, or records, we might lose a part of our past, and that would be a real shame!