A Czechoslovakian chemical engineer and librarian, Ladislow Skivanek, has developed a solvent solution of poly(vinyl acetal) copolymers to preserve books and documents. Called Regnal, the resin has been patented in the U.S. and the patent assigned to World Patent Development Corp. of New York. Paper treated with the material is claimed to have extra strength and color stability, and increased resistance to moisture, aging, soiling, wear and mold formation. Pages are sprayed with or dipped in the nonflammable solution, then pressed and dried. Free films of the substance also can be laminated to the page or document. According to the company, the substance can be useful in saving books threatened by atmospheric conditions or acidity in the paper. -- AATA