Preservation Division


Established in 1974 with responsibility for preserving Columbia University Libraries’ collections in all formats and genres, the Preservation and Digital Conversion Division added digitization to its regular operations in 1995. The Division provides a comprehensive program to prolong the existence and accessibility of the collections for current and future students and scholars, by acting to prevent or retard deterioration of physical materials through correct housing and environment, through disaster preparedness, and through staff and user education; where possible, acting to improve the condition of materials through conservation treatment; and, when necessary, acting to change their format in order to preserve their intellectual content, including converting analog content to digital form. The Division coordinates with other units in the Libraries to assure preservation of digital content.

Learn more about Conserving Cultural Heritage at Columbia and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation's challenge to the Libraries.

Columbia University Libraries Preservation Policy

Departments

Services for Patrons

Survey Tools

SELECTED SPECIAL PROJECTS