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Fears that the nation's written heritage is under threat have led to a survey on how libraries and archives preserve their books and documents.

The British Library's Research and Information Centre and the Leverhulme Trust are giving nearly Pounds 30,000 for the survey by John Feather of Loughborough University's department of information and library studies.

The aim of the study, due to be completed next spring, is to analyse and compare existing preservation policies with a view to producing an advisory document on preservation to contribute to the development of national guidelines on good preservation practice.

Some experts fear that many of the most important historical volumes and other heavily used works are deteriorating because the latest storage and preservation techniques are little understood.

Stephanie Kenna, an analyst for preservation research at the British Library centre, said: "While there is a comparatively high level of awareness of the desirability of developing preservation policies, there is also uncertainty about the means of doing so."

The National Preservation Office wants to produce guidelines that may include information on important storage variables, such as climate control, air quality, book handling and how computer technology can be harnessed as a preservation aid.