Preservation: training

• The training unit
• Training courses
• Self-training

Preservation: the training unit

Although the priority is to gradually provide training for all BnF staff, training is also available to other organizations within the framework of the library’s national and international cooperation policy.

Training aims:
to raise awareness as widely as possible of preventive preservation methods applied at every stage of the physical handling and storage of documents:

• determining risks and the causes of degradation in collections
• understanding prevention and treatment measures
• handling documents in transit before they are released for consultation or photocopied
• initial processing of documents on arrival at the library (opening parcels, stamping, applying labels, etc.)
• the various types of packaging
• identifying the physical state of documents and techniques for minor repairs

Another priority is training staff in following the library’s emergency plan. Ideally, this awareness-raising training is intended to be delivered to all staff. The training analyzes the various types of incidents that can affect libraries, and looks at how to prevent them and respond to them when they occur.

The training team is also able to organize specialist courses in response to one-off requirements (i.e. requirements which do not recur from year to year).