Reformatting is the process of copying library and archive materials to ensure the survival of their content and to extend access. Reformatting is one of the major activities of any preservation program. Much of the paper produced from the mid-nineteenth century to recent times is made from inferior materials in ways that are ultimately destructive. Although paper quality has improved in many developed countries because of mandated changes in manufacturing, poor quality paper continues to be produced in most developing countries.The struggle against deteriorating paper has always been three-fold: improve the quality of paper production, develop methods of chemically stabilizing acidic paper to prevent deterioration, and preserve the textual and graphic content of the paper by copying to another form.

This section will discuss the three basic reformatting technologies: photocopy, microform, and digital imaging.

Below is an outline of some of the topics covered in this section.