Preservation of Print and Non-Print Library Materials: A Case Study of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Main Library, Kumasi, Ghana

Abstract

As a result of the emergence of information technology and the associated explosion of information almost all kinds of libraries now have some amount of print and non-print media as part of their stock. Preserving both print and non-print materials at the same time poses a great challenge. This write up therefore examines some of the problems encountered by libraries in their efforts to preserve information. The KNUST Main Library is used as a case study. These challenges as revealed by the study involved physical buildings, storage practices, pollution, light and biological agents, security of, as well as the handling of documents. The best practices to overcome these problems have also been reviewed. Collection surveys and observations were employed for the collection of data. The data gathered was analyzed graphically and descriptively. Findings from the analysis revealed that proper preservation is necessary because documents are susceptible to both inherent and environmental factors; materials in multimedia libraries contain information for entertainment, communication, research and socio-economic growth of a people; external factors such as chemical, biological, physical and disasters can also deteriorate multimedia materials. Finally, caution must be taken when blending the methods of preservation.