Preservation Technologies

What Preservation Technologies does

Preservation Technologies, L.P. (PTLP), headquartered in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, and founded in 1992, provides mass deacidification and audiovisual digitization services to libraries, archives, universities, and cultural institutions worldwide. Its core offering is the Bookkeeper process, a patented non-aqueous magnesium oxide suspension treatment that neutralizes acid in paper and is the only deacidification method meeting Library of Congress standards; PTLP also operates an embedded Bookkeeper plant at the Library of Congress Madison Building installed in 2000 and describes its Cranberry Township facility as the largest single-site mass deacidification plant globally, processing approximately 550,000 assets per year.

Through its The MediaPreserve division, founded in 2006, the company delivers professional audio, video, and film digitization using specialized studios and engineering-monitored multiple-ingest capture systems, serving cultural, educational, and broadcast clients. Revenue is generated through quote-based, multi-year project contracts with institutional buyers, supplemented by retail Bookkeeper spray product sales via archival supply distributors and by technology licensing to national library partners operating custom facilities in Poland, South Africa, and Korea.

The company sells directly through offices in the United States, Canada, the Netherlands, and Spain, and through a partnership in China with Reli Heritage. Its enterprise customer base spans federal agencies (Library of Congress, National Library of Medicine), higher education (NYU, Northwestern, Notre Dame, University of Pittsburgh), cultural institutions (Carnegie Hall, Harry Ransom Center, Pittsburgh Symphony), and broadcasting (PBS). It holds ISO 9001:2015 certification and the U.S. President's "E" Award for Exports (2017), and most recently launched the Bookkeeper III Automated Spray System in October 2025.

Name

Preservation Technologies

Legal name

Preservation Technologies, L.P.

Website

https://ptlp.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Preservation Technologies provides deacidification, digitization products and services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Library and Archive Preservation Services

NAICS

Libraries and Archives (51921)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAHAGAI

Archive Restoration & Digitization (Film/Video/Audio Scanning, Remastering)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Media Technology & Services (Post-Production, VFX, Animation, Streaming Infrastructure)/Media Asset Management & Archiving (MAM/DAM, Preservation)

SECONDARYMPAHAGAJ

Media Asset QC, Verification & Fixity (Checksums, Compliance)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Media Technology & Services (Post-Production, VFX, Animation, Streaming Infrastructure)/Media Asset Management & Archiving (MAM/DAM, Preservation)

SECONDARYMPADAMAG

Digital Archiving & Asset Management (MAM/DAM, Cataloging, QC)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Film & Video Production/Distribution/Film & Video Restoration, Archiving & Preservation

SECONDARYEDAEAGAJ

Archives, Special Collections & Preservation Operations (Rare Materials, Conservation)

Education/Education Facilities & Support Services/Library, Media Center & Learning Space Operations

SECONDARYMPADAMAF

Archival Preservation & Conservation (Handling, Storage, Environmental Controls)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Film & Video Production/Distribution/Film & Video Restoration, Archiving & Preservation

Keywords

• Paper deacidification services
• Audiovisual digitization services
• Library preservation services
• Archival document treatment
• Collection preservation products

Headquarters

HQ city

Cranberry Twp

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Bookkeeper Deacidification Services: Mass deacidification of paper-based materials for libraries and archives. Charges per item or batch basis for neutralizing acids in books, documents, and manuscripts.
2. MediaPreserve Digitization Services: Audio, video, and film digitization services. Creates preservation master files, intermediary files, and streaming files. Processes large institutional collections with custom project planning.
3. Bookkeeper Spray Products: Sale of Bookkeeper spray products and spray systems for individual and institutional use. Products available in 150g non-aerosol bottles and 900g refill bottles.
4. Clarity Watermark Fluid: Stamp preservation fluid sold to philatelic collectors through retail channels.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Preservation Technologies provides mass paper deacidification services using its patented Bookkeeper process, which deposits a non-toxic magnesium oxide alkaline buffer into paper structure via a non-aqueous fluorinated carrier liquid to extend document lifespan by 3-5 times. Through its MediaPreserve division, the company offers audio, video, and film digitization services with specialized multiple-ingest studios and conforms to industry metadata schemas. It also sells Bookkeeper spray products, the Bookkeeper III automated spray system, Clarity watermark fluid for stamp preservation, and Abbey pH Pen consumables.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bookkeeper: Deacidification process and product line for neutralizing harmful acids in paper-based materials. Includes the Bookkeeper Deacidification Process, Bookkeeper Spray Products, Bookkeeper Spray System, and Bookkeeper III Automated Spray System.
• The MediaPreserve

Products and services

• Custom Bookkeeper Facility Joint Ventures Custom-installed Bookkeeper deacidification facilities at major libraries, including the Library of Congress Madison Building, National Library of Poland, Jagiellonian University, National Library of South Africa, and National Library of Korea. Partners use the Bookkeeper process to treat their own holdings and expand to serve other regional institutions.
• Bookkeeper Deacidification Services Mass deacidification of paper-based materials (books, manuscripts, documents, archival records) using the patented Bookkeeper process that deposits a magnesium oxide alkaline buffer in a non-aqueous fluorinated carrier liquid. Performed at the world's largest deacidification plant in Cranberry Township, PA and at an embedded plant within the Library of Congress Madison Building. Sold to libraries, archives, universities, and government institutions on a quote-based per-item or per-batch basis with multi-year contract options.
• The MediaPreserve Audiovisual Digitization Services Audio, video, and film digitization services covering audio laboratory, video laboratory, and film laboratory work. Uses engineer-monitored multiple ingest systems capable of processing 12+ audio assets and 8+ video assets simultaneously, with studios designed to NC15 noise and STC 60-65 isolation standards. Delivers preservation master files, intermediary files, and streaming files with PBCore, METS, and DublinCore metadata capture. Sold to libraries, archives, cultural institutions, broadcasters, and sports teams.
• Bookkeeper Spray Products Consumer and institutional deacidification spray products for individual and small-scale paper preservation. Available in 150g non-aerosol bottles and 900g refill bottles. Distributed through major archival supply retailers including Gaylord, Brodart, Archival Products, TALAS, University Products, and Hollinger Metal Edge.
• Bookkeeper III Automated Spray System Automated spray system for deacidification featuring automated size selection matching original documents, adjustable spray height, adjustable speed for the spray head, built-in suction table, on-board quiet air compressor, and easy-clean spray nozzles. Designed for use in any room without a specialized area, work surface, or fume hood.
• Clarity Watermark Fluid Stamp preservation fluid sold to philatelic collectors through retail channels to identify watermarks on stamps without damaging them.

Quantifiable outcome

• Extends usable life of paper-based materials by 3-5 times
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and regional.

• Library of CongressflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 2000, operating plant within the Library of Congress Madison Building specifically treating manuscripts and records. Represents the highest endorsement of Bookkeeper process quality and a core strategic relationship for the company.
• National Library of PolandcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerCustom Bookkeeper facility installed to treat library holdings, with plans to expand services to other Polish libraries and archives.
• Jagiellonian University LibrarycoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerPaper Clinic established using Bookkeeper process for university holdings and regional institutions.
• National Library of South AfricacoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerCustom facility serving South African preservation needs with expansion to other regional institutions planned.
• National Library of KoreacoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerPreservation and Research Center using Bookkeeper process for Korean collections.
• Reli Heritage Preservation Technologies Co., Ltd.regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership for China operations serving Chinese market for preservation services and Bookkeeper products.
• Harry Ransom CenterflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigitizing and preserving over 2,800 rare recordings including 750 Mel Gussow interviews. Project partially funded by NEH grant.
• Pittsburgh SymphonycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigitizing 300 reel-to-reel recordings from André Previn's tenure as Music Director, 1976-1984. Project supported by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission grant.
• The Pryor CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRestoring and digitizing KATV News archival collection including 300 hours of film and 26,000 videotapes documenting Arkansas state history.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Northeast Document Conservation Center (NEDCC): Non-profit conservation center offering paper conservation, book repair, deacidification consultation, and digital imaging services to libraries, archives, and cultural institutions. Closest direct peer to Preservation Technologies' book and paper preservation services, though operating as a non-profit rather than commercial LP.
• Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts (CCAHA): Specializes in conservation treatment of paper-based artifacts including books, manuscripts, maps, and works on paper for libraries, archives, and museums. Directly comparable in offering paper conservation and preservation services to institutional customers.
• Backstage Library Works: Provides digitization, microfilm scanning, and metadata services to libraries and government archives, plus barcode labeling and archival processing. Direct competitor for institutional digitization contracts with overlapping customer base of research libraries.
• George Blood Audio, Video, Film and Data: Specializes in digitization of obsolete audio, video, and film formats including open-reel, cassette, and disc-based media for archives, libraries, and broadcasters. Direct competitor to The MediaPreserve for AV digitization contracts with similar technical capabilities.
• MediaFix Pro (formerly ScanCafe): High-volume photo, film, video, and audio digitization service provider serving both consumer and institutional markets. Competes with MediaPreserve for institutional AV digitization projects though with a more consumer-leaning business mix.

Broad incumbents

• Iron Mountain Incorporated: Public company providing records storage, information management, and digital transformation services including media digitization and asset management at massive scale. Competes in the broader institutional preservation space but lacks PTLP's specialized deacidification technology and cultural-heritage focus.

Others

• Hollinger Metal Edge: Major archival supplies distributor selling preservation products, storage materials, and conservation supplies. Channel partner/distributor for PTLP's Bookkeeper spray products rather than direct competitor, but adjacent in the institutional preservation supply chain.
• Image Permanence Institute: Research institute at Rochester Institute of Technology providing independent testing and standards for image and AV preservation. Not a commercial competitor but is the reference laboratory that has validated PTLP's Bookkeeper process and sets industry standards (referenced as authority in PTLP materials).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/preservation-technologies-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Preservation Technologies