The conservation and preservation of library resources have become fundamental priorities for cultural heritage institutions responsible for safeguarding documentary evidence, manuscripts, archival collections, rare books, photographs, maps, and other knowledge assets. Rapid technological development, environmental degradation, increasing user demand, and the deterioration of traditional information carriers have significantly transformed preservation management practices worldwide. In India, institutions such as the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) and the National Archives of India (NAI) represent two nationally significant organizations entrusted with preserving invaluable documentary and cultural heritage collections. Although both institutions pursue similar preservation objectives, they differ in organizational mandate, collection characteristics, conservation methodologies, digitization priorities, preservation infrastructure, and public access strategies. Understanding these similarities and differences is essential for developing an integrated preservation framework suitable for contemporary library and archival environments.

This research and review study develops a comparative analytical framework for examining conservation and preservation management practices adopted by the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts and the National Archives of India. The study adopts a qualitative comparative methodology based exclusively on published scholarly literature and institutional documentation. Existing research concerning preventive conservation, paper preservation, digitization, preservation management strategies, heritage documentation, and digital preservation is critically synthesized to identify institutional strengths, operational challenges, and emerging preservation trends. Special emphasis is placed on preventive conservation, environmental monitoring, digital preservation, preservation policy, technological integration, and sustainable access management. The analysis demonstrates that effective preservation requires a multidimensional management framework integrating physical conservation, digitization, institutional policy, technological innovation, professional expertise, and user accessibility. The study further argues that preservation management should evolve from isolated conservation activities toward an integrated institutional strategy supporting long-term sustainability and knowledge dissemination. The proposed comparative framework contributes to preservation management literature by offering a structured perspective that can assist cultural heritage institutions in improving preservation planning, resource allocation, and digital transformation initiatives while ensuring the long-term protection of India's documentary heritage. Similar observations regarding sustainable digital preservation have also been emphasized by Ahmad and Sharma (2020), highlighting the growing importance of integrating technological solutions with traditional preservation practices.