檔案屬於文字或非文字資料及其附件,是歷史的記錄。檔案依材質可分為載體及媒材兩部分,其保存之良窳,受到物理性的力量、偷竊、犯罪或不當放置、火、水、有害生物、污染物、可見光與紫外線、不正確的溫度、不正確的相對濕度等劣化因素的影響,造成檔案物理性、化學性、生物性的變化。因此,檔案保存必須從劣化因素的防治著手,其可分為五項措施:(i)設定標準、避免不良檔案保存條件;(ii)改善不良檔案保存條件;(iii)定期偵測保存環境及檔案保存狀況;(iv)保存狀況發生問題時應有正確和即時回應;(v)因故受損的環境復原與文物的善後處理。檔案的修復仍應遵守一般文化資產修復的原則,即維持檔案的歷史記錄真實性及修復材料與方法之可逆性。
Archives are words or non-words files and attachments. They are the records of history. The materials of archives can be divided into support and media. That good archives conservation or not is dependent on how to deal with the deterioration factors. The deterioration factors include physical forces, thieves, vandals, displacers, fire, water, pests, contaminants, light, ultra violet, incorrect temperature, incorrect relative humidity etc. They will bring the physical, chemical or biological changes. The strategies for the conservation of archives are as follows: (i) set up the standard requirement and avoid happening of deterioration factors; (ii) improve the deterioration factors; (iii) survey the condition of archives and environment in a period of time; (iv) proper and in time reaction; (v) recover the environment and restore the archives. Archives conservators have to follow the code and ethics, especially the authenticity and reversibility, when they deal with the archives.