Foreword

Publishing information

This British Standard is published by BSI Standards Limited, under licence from The British Standards Institution, and came into effect on 30 June 2017. It was prepared by Subcommittee IDT/2/9, Document preservation, under the authority of Technical Committee IDT/2, Information and documentation. A list of organizations represented on this committee can be obtained on request to its secretary.

Supersession

Together with BS EN 168931, this British Standard supersedes BS 4971:2002 and PD 5454:2012, which will be withdrawn upon the publication of BS EN 16893.

Use of this document

As a code of practice, this British Standard takes the form of guidance and recommendations. It should not be quoted as if it were a specification and particular care should be taken to ensure that claims of compliance are not misleading.

Any user claiming compliance with this British Standard is expected to be able to justify any course of action that deviates from its recommendations.

Relationship with other publications

BS 4971:2017 contains archive and library specifications (Clause 5), hitherto covered by PD 5454, but which are considered out of scope of its replacement, BS EN 16893, being archive-specific. This means environmental parameters and decision-making for archive or library collections are covered by this British Standard and not by BS EN 16893.

Presentational conventions

The provisions of this standard are presented in roman (i.e. upright) type. Its recommendations are expressed in sentences in which the principal auxiliary verb is “should”.

Commentary, explanation and general informative material is presented in smaller italic type, and does not constitute a normative element.

The word “should” is used to express recommendations of this standard. The word “may” is used in the text to express permissibility, e.g. as an alternative to the primary recommendation of the clause. The word “can” is used to express possibility, e.g. a consequence of an action or an event.

Notes and commentaries are provided throughout the text of this standard. Notes give references and additional information that are important but do not form part of the recommendations. Commentaries give background information.

Contractual and legal considerations

This publication does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a contract. Users are responsible for its correct application.

Compliance with a British Standard cannot confer immunity from legal obligations.

BS 4971:2017

Conservation and care of archive and library collections

Current

Published:

30 Jun 2017