Preservation planning for the small special library should be considered one of the managerial objectives of its librarian. It should reflect the nature of the library's collections, users, and its physical and financial environment. Longevity of collections is seen in terms of the nature of the materials, their manufacture, chemical/physical make-up and their inherent vice; the nature of the storage conditions in terms of temperature, relative humidity and light; and the nature of handling and treatment. Decision-making, with emphasis on curatorial responsibility, is discussed. -- AATA