Preservation Help

At the National Library we are responsible for the care and preservation of many of New Zealand’s most important books, archives, photographs, sound recordings and art works. There are many things that can be done to preserve your own precious items.

Information booklets

We have a number of booklets that give advice about protecting and preserving your precious items. You can download these booklets from this website.

'Caring for photographs'

'Conservation framing of artworks on paper'

'Care of books'

'Care of artworks on paper'

'Care of family collections'

'Care of sound recordings'

'Managing and preserving community archives'

'Caring for Taonga – Photographs'

'Caring for Taonga – Sound Recordings'

We also have booklets written in te reo Māori.

'Te tiaki i ngā taonga pūoro - care of sound recordings'

'Te tiaki whakaahua - care of photographs'

'Te tiaki pukapuka - care of books'

'Te tiaki taonga toi i tuhia ki te pepa - care of artworks on paper'

'Me pēhea te tohu i ngā taonga a te whānau - care of family collections'

The National Library's Preservation unit has also made its Preserving Newspapers guide available online

Download 'Preserving Newspapers'

National Preservation Office

We can help you to care for your own collections, whether they are kept in your home or a marae, library, museum or archive. Our National Preservation Office was established to provide advice and assistance to those who hold heritage items of significance to all New Zealanders. 

More about the National Preservation Office

There are two staff who work in the National Preservation Office. They can give you advice via phone, email, letter or in person.