Preventive Conservation includes all of the activities that enhance preservation of collections without direct intervention with the material fabric of objects. This can mean controlling environmental factors (relative humidity, light and UV, temperature, and pollutants), integrated pest management, as well as good care and handling practices.

It may not be glamorous but an ounce of preventive conservation is well worth a pound of conservation treatment! Treatments are time consuming and the number of conservators on staff is very limited compared to the millions of artifacts in the collections. We know that it would be simply impossible for RAM conservators to individually treat all of the artifacts in the collection, but by working on preventive conservation measures such as those outlined above, we can help safeguard the museum's collections for future generations to enjoy.