# Assessing the Physical Condition of the National Book Collection

Assessing the Physical Condition of the National Book Collection is an ongoing project within the Preservation Research and Testing Division of the Library of Congress. The project involves comparing the physical, chemical, and visual traits of multiple sets of "identical" books, each sourced from university libraries in varying regions of the U.S. The aim is to provide objective assessments involving analytical techniques that can be used as a reference point to determine a book's overall stability and anticipate the areas of concern in a book's inherent qualities. These analyses also aim to create a framework for institutions across the country to assess and qualify their collections use potential and preservation needs going forward. During their time at the Library of Congress, Junior Fellows Kimberly Chancellor and Heidi Vance assisted in reviewing the data collected from multiple sets of five books (per set) from the late nineteenth-century to see if any trends could be identified between the condition of the books and their traits, and what these trends can imply for the future conditions of the books. This review also allowed for comparisons to be made between book sets in order to determine the ideal handling and stabilization of certain books.

- Kind: Talk
- Year: 2021
- By: Library Of Congress. Preservation Directorate
- Archive: [Library of Congress](https://www.loc.gov/item/2024697548/)
- Licence or status: Rights statement at the Library of Congress (as the archive states it)
- Credit: Library of Congress
- Who can watch: Tweens profiles and older (the archive gives no rating; placed by Invisible Network from its collection and subjects)

[Watch now](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/watch/archive/loc/2024697548?play=1)