Conservation nomenclature

I was intrigued to read the proposed AIC definitions posted last
week.  Coming from the Library/Archives field, I was a bit disturbed
to see what is an apparent change in the definitions of
'Conservation' and 'Preservation' from what has been considered
accepted definitions during the past decade or so.  I have
understood 'Preservation ' to be the term that has taken on the
'umbrella' tenor in including all aspects of activities that deal
with the long-term retention on items, whereas 'conservation' has
referred specifically to the hands-on, item-level treatment that
conservators conduct on items to ensure their long-term retention.
The former would include, emergency preparedness, environmental
controls, security, care and handling, etc.  If this is being
changed we really need to know about it since most people that I
know in the library/archival fields are using these definitions.

Gregor Trinkaus-Randall
Collection Management/Preservation Specialist
Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners
648 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02215-2070
617-267-9400
Fax: 617-421-9833

                                  ***
                  Conservation DistList Instance 8:85
                  Distributed: Sunday, April 23, 1995
                        Message Id: cdl-8-85-005
                                  ***