ABSTRACT
The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) Preservation and Conservation (PAC) Programme was conceived in a decentralized way for greater efficiency: a focal point to manage activities and regional centres, responsible for their choices and policies. PAC was first established at the Library of Congress in Washington with two regional centres: one at the Bibliotheque nationale in France, responsible for Western Europe, the Mediterranean countries and Africa, and another at the Deutsche Bucherei, in Leipzig, responsible for Eastern Europe. The recent construction of new national libraries in London, Paris, Frankfurt and Copenhagen has focused the attention of professionals but also of the public at large on preservation issues. The acerbic criticisms from journalists or preservation professionals have proved useful in pointing out the requirements in terms of preservation. Flexibility will also be required for adapting standards to the particular economic, climatic and environmental conditions of each library.
