British Library Preservation Advisory Centre

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British Library Preservation Advisory Centre
Formation1984; 41 years ago (1984)
Dissolved31 March 2014; 11 years ago (2014-03-31)
Location
Coordinates51°31′46″N 0°07′37″W / 51.52944°N 0.12694°W / 51.52944; -0.12694
Parent organisation
British Library
Formerly called
National Preservation Office

The British Library Preservation Advisory Centre, formerly the National Preservation Office, was a British organisation for the development and awareness of preservation management within libraries and archives in the UK and Ireland.[2][3][4][5] The centre closed in 2014.[3]

Purpose and activities

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In April 1984, the British Library Board established the National Preservation Office following the publication of the Ratcliffe Report.[2][3][5] During its existence it raised public awareness of preservation issues in libraries and served as a nexus for developing and promoting improved preservation management of library and archive materials in the UK and Ireland.[3] The Centre aimed to create a strategic policy for preserving current library collections, and addressed issues arising as digital collections evolved.[6]

Its work was focused on practical results:

  • To assist cultural heritage agencies and organizations develop strategies for the preservation of cultural heritage assets in museums, libraries and archives, including the further development of the "Preservation Assessment Survey" (PAS)[7] and training in the use of the PAS tools
  • To provide print and web-based information services for individuals and organizations, especially for collections throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland.
  • To provide training in preservation management for individuals and organizations including relevant training in the following areas: introduction to preservation management; disaster management; environmental control and monitoring.[8]

The Centre published an annual digest and report.[9]

International influence

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The need for national entities like the Centre had been documented in surveys conducted by the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) Section on Preservation & Conservation and by the Ligue Internationale des Bibliothèques Européennes de Recherches. Other than the United Kingdom, at least seven other countries have set up a similar entity, including Canada and New Zealand.[10]

Merger and closure

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In 2009 the National Preservation Office merged with the British Library Department of Collection Care to form the British Library Preservation Advisory Centre.[4] Following the Centre's closure on 31 March 2014, all publications and resources were transferred to the British Library Collection Care webpages.[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "National Preservation Office Publications". National Preservation Office. London: The British Library. 2 May 2003. Archived from the original on 3 June 2004. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  2. ^ a b Marshall, Vanessa C. (15 June 2001). "Collection Care in Libraries Today". Digital Preservation Resources Symposium. Dublin, Ohio: OCLC. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e "About". British Library Preservation Advisory Centre. London: British Library. 2009. Archived from the original on 10 April 2010. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  4. ^ a b "British Library. National Preservation Office". Library of Congress Name Authority File. Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. 2025. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  5. ^ a b "About the NPO". National Preservation Office. London: The British Library Board; The British Library. 29 September 2005. Archived from the original on 2 July 2007. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  6. ^ Beagrie, N. et al. (1998) "A Strategic Policy Framework for Creating and Preserving Digital Collections." British Library Research and Innovation Report 107.
  7. ^ PAS overview
  8. ^ "Key Goals and Key Objectives 2005 - 2008". National Preservation Office. London: The British Library Board; The British Library. 29 August 2005. Archived from the original on 2 July 2007. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  9. ^ NPO/PAS reports Archived 5 February 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ Foot, Mirjam. (1997) "Paper: Towards a National Preservation Policy," 63rd IFLA General Conference (Copenhagen).
  • Beagrie, N. and D. Greenstein. (1998) "A Strategic Policy Framework for Creating and Preserving Digital Collections." British Library Research and Innovation Report 107. London: British Library.
  • Bennett, J.C. (1997) "A Framework of Data Types and Formats, and Issues Affecting the Long Term Preservation of Digital Material." British Library Research and Innovation Report 50. London: British Library.
  • Clements. (1986). "The National Preservation Office in the British Library," IFLA Journal (International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions). 12:25-32.
  • Feeney, Mary, ed. (1999). Digital Culture: Maximizing the Nation's Investment. London: National Preservation Office, The British Library.
  • Haynes, D., D. Streatfield, T. Jowett., and M. Blake. (1997). "Responsibility for Digital Archiving and Long-term Access to Digital Data." British Library Research and Innovation Report 67. The British Library, London: United Kingdom.
  • Hendley. T. (1998). "Comparison of Methods and Costs of Digital Preservation." British Library Research and Innovation Report 106. London: United Kingdom.
  • Matthews, G., A. Poulter, and E. Blagg. "Preservation of Digital Materials Policy and Strategy Issues for the UK." British Library Research and Innovation Report 41. London: United Kingdom. 1997.
  • Ross, S. and A. Gow. (1999). "Digital Archaeology: The Recovery of Digital Materials at Risk." British Library Research and Innovation Report 108. London: United Kingdom. 1999.
  • Stephens, David O. "Digital preservation in the United Kingdom," Information Management Journal, October 2000.