| Summary: | SUMMARIES. Library preservation activities should be based on well thought-out and longterm concepts adjusted to libraries' individual needs and statutory tasks. These activities include damage prevention, conservation work, restoration and preservation. Forming of a correct library preservation policy by libraries requires consideration of relevant research and documentation concerning the condition of the collections and causes of their destruction. Such a policy should enable growth of library preservation, which involves searching for new methods and technologies. Unfortunately our libraries neither have significant accomplishments nor traditions in damage prevention and preservation, thus also adequate organizational structures, specialized staff, and applicable principles of financing are missing. Some activity concerning library preservation started in Poland only in the 1990 s. Thanks to the efforts initiated by Professor Adam Manikowski, the National Library director at that time, in 1997 a memorial was directed to the highest state authorities "On the Need of Saving Polish Cultural Heritage in Library and Archival Collections of the 19th and 20th Century". In June 1998, under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture and Arts, key tenets were developed of a "Strategie Govermnent Programme for Saving Polish Cultural Heritage in Archival and Library Collections". This raises hopes that multi-million 19th and 20th century collections will be covered by conservation protection. Other initiatives creating possibilities for development in this area of library operations emerged following the tragic experience of the 1997 flood. For example, the programme of activity of the National Council for Saving Flood-Stricken Library Collections called to existence in December 1997 provides for the additional upgrading of several existing conservation studios, purchases of modern equipment and efforts to raise awareness of the issues of damage prevention. It is important that among the basic goals that today's libraries are to pursue one of the priorities is conservation which should now be regarded as an indispensable task of a contemporary library.
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