The conservation department at the University Library Basel is responsible for the preservation of the entire physical library stocks for current as well as future users.

The department looks after the manuscripts, printed works, bequests and maps of the historical holdings at the library as well as the archive material of the Swiss Economics Archive.

The duties of the conservation department are divided into the areas of prevention, stabilising conservation, restoration as well as book binding.

Firstly, the conservation team carries out its conservational work itself and is thereby directly involved in the conservation of cultural assets. Secondly, it organises and coordinates interdisciplinary conservation projects and checks the integration of conservation measures in the area of library processes. The University Library Basel understands conservation as a holistic library process, the success of which is dependent not only on book restorers, but also employees and users.

Besides having the responsibility for the conservation of the holdings at the University Library, the conservation department staff also advise libraries and archives in the Basel library network on conservation queries.

In addition, the University Library is also responsible for the education of professional trainees – regularly offering pre-study internships, or study internship placements.