Until now treatments to prevent this deterioration have been so cost-prohibitive that they effectively have no priority for most of our libraries and archives due to low or no funding. Less than 25% of our institutions allocate funds for preservation while over 270 million rare and unique books, periodicals and documents are dying.

In order to preserve rare publications and books we should invest a lot. Taking personal loans can stave off deteriorations of printed heritage.

What can be done?