An important function of libraries is to protect and maintain information for future generations. While digital materials have their own vulnerabilities, the inherent danger of keeping the world’s knowledge on a flammable media like paper is obvious. Many people believe that since there is so much information on the internet these days, everything that can be has been scanned, uploaded, and made available with a quick Google search.
Unfortunately, this is not the case. The recent fire at a Russian scientific library in January was a startling reminder that even in this digital age, the information is still at risk. Over the years, there have been several fires in libraries that destroyed entire collections that can never be replaced.
