Management of and access to print collections in national and repository libraries in Europe: Collection for use or for preservation

Purpose - This paper aims to examine current European policies concerning the preservation of printed documents. Both legal deposits and repositories are discussed. The results are based on an e-survey that was conducted at the beginning of 2012. In addition, the use and knowledge organization of these depositories and repositories are discussed. The results of the survey are analyzed in the paper with the proposals on ways to develop both national and international policies based on these findings. Design/methodology/approach - The paper takes the form of a survey. Findings - There are many different ways in which printed resources are preserved in Europe. The main motivation has been the desire to preserve the national cultural heritage. There clearly is a need to encourage more co-operation and planning at the international level. Research limitations/implications - The paper is based on the European experience and perspective. Practical implications - The authors propose a model to promote European co-operation in encouraging the use of less widely used printed documents, more efficient work processes and more economical storage of these documents. Originality/value - The paper describes a model promoting international cooperation between institutions involved in the storage and dissemination of the printed documents.