The Preservation Services Division came to the rescue as newspapers from Africa needed a brief holdover on their seven-thousand-mile journey to become part of the Library of Congress’ collection.
Government offices rely on consistent output from their technology, and sometimes those devices operate long past their expected retirement. One technician reflects as he replaces a printer used for nearly thirteen years.
Though the binding staff at the Library no longer binds items on site, they do conduct a thorough review of each item once it returns from the commercial bindery. This peer-review system provides complete accountability and quality assurance for over 2,000 items each week.
Each book in the Library of Congress has its own story from writing to publication to its placement on the Library's shelves. Some take a little longer and need special treatment because they don't travel alone.