Regulations for the Care and Handling of Treasured Material | National Tsing Hua University Library

The NTHU Library (hereinafter referred to as the "library") establishes this regulations with a view to preserve, maintain, and manage the treasured materials of the library.
The treasured materials referred to in this regulations are as defined in Article 2 of the NTHU Library Treasured Material Usage Regulations.
Library materials, once deemed valuable by line units, should be reported to and agreed upon by the President, or else a selection committee should be assembled. The selection committee consists of all heads of division.Knowledgeable institutions and experts can be entrusted in the reviewing process when necessary.
Before officially registered as treasured, materials should be cleaned and examined in terms of its condition. Damaged materials should be reported and repaired upon approval of the President.
Treasured materials should be registered and filed, with the registered serial number marked on the material or through other appropriate measures. Photos should be taken and filed for treasured instruments or artefacts.
Preservation environment for treasured materials should be appropriately arranged by the library according to the nature and value of the materials, so that the integrity of the materials is fully maintained.
Treasured materials should be subject to periodic inventory according to the following guidelines:
The library can reward volunteers through the following ways according to the contributions of the volunteer.
1. A plan for inventory should be made in advance.
2. A complete inventory should include checks for number of items and storage location, as well as a condition evaluation for materials.
3. Files concerning treasured materials should be updated according to the results of inventory.
The library may carry out repairing or maintenance procedure based on the results of inventory.
Treasured materials are to be handled with extra care at all times. While holding, packing, or shipping, the following guidelines should be strictly followed.
1. No eating, drinking, or smoking is allowed when holding, packing, or shipping treasured materials.
2. Any damage occurred when holding, packing,or shipping treasured materials should be recorded by photo. All scraps and evidence should be preserved.
3. When holding treasured materials:
  - Remove anything on your body that might scratch or rip the material before picking it up, e.g. ID patch, rings, watches.
  - Clean your hands and put on clean gloves
  - With both hands, hold the material steadily at its main body of mass.
  - Only carry one item at a time, different parts can be carried separately to prevent loose parts falling.
  - Large or heavy materials should be held by two or more people at a time.
4. When packing treasured materials:
  - Treasured materials should be properly packaged, safe from the influence of external forces and weather condition.
  - The wrap in contact with the material should be carefully chosen to be tender and of no harm to the material.
  - After packing, a list of contents inside the package should be provided, along with illustrated instructions on how to assemble the material if necessary.
5. When shipping treasured materials:
Considering the condition, frequency of retrieval, treasured value, and budget quota, treasured materials may be duplicated.
Lending, exhibiting, and transaction of treasured materials should be approved by the president and carried out upon written contract.
The value of treasured materials are evaluated by the committee. Scholars and experts of relevant fields may be invited to the committee.
Materials annihilated or damaged beyond repair should be reviewed upon and scrapped.