Cornell University Library's Approach to the Reformatting of
Deteriorating Paper Background and Rationale. Much of the paper
produced during the late nineteenth and early twentieth
centuries is destined to disintegrate because of faulty
production methods and damaging chemicals. During the last fifty
years in particular, research conducted by paper scientists and
chemists has helped to identify the chief causes of this
disintegration, and effective models have been developed that
can predict—in a general way—the rate at which much of this
paper deteriorates. Paper made from ground wood with alum/rosin
sizing has the shortest life-span and most newspapers, even
today, are made from these materials. In many developing
countries most book production is on paper made from unpurified
ground wood . Over the last several years, the steps taken
throughout the world to try to change this situation have been
four-fold: (1) to improve the quality of paper production,
especially for works of permanent value (2) to requir