Addressing the preservation needs of research collections in a systematic and cost-effective manner requires the development of conservation strategies for their long-term storage and use. A key to success is the establishment of a collections conservation program for the institution. The goal of such a conservation program is the long-term preservation of the utility of the collections; thus any conservation approach must facilitate access to the collections and preserve their integrity for research and other uses. Both treatment and prevention are important aspects of conservation, but prevention is by far the most appropriate approach for the vast numbers of natural history specimens and objects. A preventive conservation program begins with an assessment of the impact of the agents of deterioration on various collections and is followed by a staged plan to mitigate these effects. Implementation plans should be broken into manageable portions to meet short-, medium-, and long-range goals. Resources are available to assist museum personnel in acquiring appropriate conservation information and expertise to assess collection needs and to implement collections care plans/strategies