Volume 3, Number 1
Mar 1990

Testimony of NIC In Favor of H.J. Res 226

The National Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Property, Inc. (NIC) is pleased to support H.J. Resolution 226 to establish a policy on permanent papers. We urge its immediate adoption.

NIC is the umbrella organization for all conservation and preservation activities in the United States. It provides leadership and coordination in national efforts to promote and facilitate the conservation and preservation of our nation's heritage, including cultural property, architecture, and natural history collections, in both public and private collections. To this end, the Institute assists the efforts of its diverse membership and provides coordination in identifying issues and needs, in formulating strategies and solutions and in initiating programs to ensure the conservation and preservation of our nation's patrimony.

In almost all cases, conservation requires an ongoing commitment of financial resources that later pays substantial dividends by ensuring that the collections representing our past survive for the future. Unfortunately, only several opportunities exist to substantially impede deterioration of a cultural resource at the time of its creation; the use of permanent and durable paper an documents of lasting value is the preeminent example of this.

As the preamble to H.J. Res. 226 points out, using permanent and durable paper is a sound investment. Congress itself has already appropriated more than $100 million to preserve books and documents. This amount, already matched several-fold by other sources, must increase if we wish to save materials that have been produced during the last century.

NIC is working to encourage its more than 175 organizational members, which represent the leading historic preservation institutions, museums and historical societies, libraries and archives, as well as the professional organizations representing conservation and preservation professionals in the United States, to adopt the use of permanent and durable paper on a routine basis. All of NIC's own publications and archival materials meet the standards set by the American National Standards Institute.

The Institute has already reached beyond its membership to raise awareness about alkalinity. Working with Ellen McCrady, editor of the Alkaline [Paper Advocate], NIC president Lawrence L. Reger was instrumental in encouraging inclusion of information about permanent paper in The Fine Paper Directory--Sample Book, the most comprehensive catalog available regarding paper, and The Competitive Grade Finder, referred to as "the bible of the paper and graphics industry." Before the 1989 publication of these annual source books, no paper directory or catalog offered the paper producer, distributor or consumer any guidance about alkalinity.

NIC strongly supports passage of H.J. Res. 226, a sound measure that will save hundreds of millions of dollars that would eventually be needed to deacidify or transfer information on acidic paper. We mast work to ensure a broad partnership of the public and private sectors who are committed to the principles of H.J. Res. 226. Congressional leadership ensures that books and documents representing an essential part of our intellectual heritage are preserved for future generations. Your support will enhance the efforts and successes of NIC and its members.

[This statement was presented on February 21, 1990, to the Subcommittee on Government Information, Justice and Agriculture of the Government Operations Committee of the House of Representatives. NIC's address is Suite 403, 3299 K Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007 (202/625-1495).]