"This volume will be a very useful source for librarians, archivists, paraprofessional staff, administrators, and preservation professionals who are engaged in educating their communities about preservation issues...an excellent 'one-stop' resource for anyone looking for concrete suggestions for educational programs aimed at patrons and staff... [This book] will be an important addition to the preservation literature, pulling together information that is essential to effective preservation programs but that has not been widely and easily accessible in the past." -- Ann Russell Executive Director Northeast Document Conservation Center "^IPromoting Preservation Awareness^R fills a long-standing need in the field of library preservation... [The book] speaks to the preservation needs of public, school, and academic libraries that have, for too long, been sparsley represented in the literature. This volume goes a long way toward redressing that imbalance. Happily it does so with a number of interesting, informative and well-written articles that give good advice, concrete examples, and sound reasoning." -- Robert DeCandido Preservation Division The New York Public Library

No other book provides such a comprehensive approach to educating library customers and staff in the preservation of library materials. Over 35 case studies provide innovative programs and strategies for providing preservation education initiatives throughout the library. The various types of materials collected paired with the variety of patrons requires a full spectrum of approaches. Going on the assumption that much damage is caused by unknowing misuse, this professional reference gives academic, school, and public library staff as well as special collections staff, a solid approach for designing, implementing and evaluating formal and informal preservation educational programs.

As collections deteriorate and library budgets shrink, the longevity of collections becomes an increasingly important issue. To minimize harm to collections, librarians need to emphasize the importance of preservation and proper handling. This professional reference explains how to create, implement and evaluate formal and informal preservation education programs in school, public, academic, and special collections.

Chapters are written by contributors from a wide range of positions in librarianship and academia. Building on the assumption that most misuse is because of misunderstanding or lack of understanding, much attention is given to reaching all types of patrons and changing attitudes. Because preservation largely depends on the attitude of patrons, much attention is given to reaching all types of patrons. Informing adults to avoid misuse and teaching children to respect books and to handle them carefully are two different methods. Visual messages using posters, bookmarks, and signs to educate can help prevent damage. Library staff, on the other hand, benefit from training programs, which can effectively include tests and videos. Users of rare and archival materials can be informed through brochures, and one-on-one interaction with librarians. The volume includes over 35 illustrative case studies, and it concludes with an extensive bibliography and videography.