leesbehoud

Leesbehoud is a term used in library and archival heritage contexts to describe the activities aimed at preserving reading materials and the culture of reading for present and future generations. It encompasses physical conservation of books, manuscripts, and periodicals, as well as the management of access to these resources through digitization and digital preservation. The goal is to maintain readability, legibility, and the informational value of materials despite aging or format obsolescence.

Physical conservation includes binding repairs, deacidification, stabilization of brittle pages, housing in climate-controlled environments, and pest management. Preventive care such as careful handling, proper shelving, and the use of acid-free packing materials extend lifespans and reduce deterioration.

Digital leesbehoud covers strategies to preserve electronic resources over time. This includes preserving bitstreams, emulation or migration of file formats, robust metadata, and regular refreshing of storage media. Access policies balance long-term preservation with copyright and user needs.

In governance and practice, leesbehoud is pursued by national, regional, and institutional libraries and archives. In the Netherlands and Belgium, major institutions collaborate on standards, digitization projects, and shared repositories to ensure continued accessibility of cultural heritage. The field faces challenges such as material degradation, budget constraints, and evolving digital rights, requiring interdisciplinary teams and sustainable preservation planning.