The Preservation Department preserves the library's current and historic research materials, regardless of format, to ensure future availability for as long as those materials are deemed appropriate for retention in the library's collections. To this end, providing continued access to the intellectual content of the collections is the primary goal by slowing deterioration, providing physical and/or chemical treatment for stabilization of the artifact, or when necessary transferring the content to a more stable medium or converting to an alternate format to improve preservation and access. Full conservation treatment is reserved for materials with artifact value.