The conservation of collections of artifacts begins with a detailed plan, which indicates step-by-step how the condition of a collection should be made stable and maintained. A description and assessment of the condition of the collection is a sound basis for such a plan. The plan should consist of the following subjects: 1) a characterization of the collection which determines the approach to its investigation and conservation; 2) advice on preventive conservation, with consideration of climate, chemical environment, storage, transportation, and disaster control; 3) a proposal for the employment of, and cooperation with, assistants, identifying the type of work to be done by assistants; 4) the necessary first aid, either for the object or for its surroundings; 5) short- and long-term controls, e.g., after one month, one year, or five years; 6) the proposed treatments, explaining the reasons for and describing the work to be done including an estimate of the costs; 7) the proposed research of unexplained circumstances or phenomena, of special methods and materials for treatment, packing materials, art historical subjects, with references to comparable problems in other collections; and 8) proposals for restoration considering the desired degree of accessibility and presentability and the estimated costs. Finally all aspects are to be recapitulated and placed in an annual scheme.