This month the Harvard University Library System won a $939,000 grant that it will use to copy some decaying items in its history of science collection from paper to microfilm.

The grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) was the largest single grant the foundation awarded this month.

The documents--19th-century books and other items relating to the history of science--are currently under restricted access because of their age and delicate condition. Harvard College Librarian Nancy M. Cline said microfilming the materials would make them more accessible to researchers.

She says that the microfilmed documents could be used more effectively within the library and suggests they may also be sold externally. Since many items from this collection have begun to deteriorate and decay after being used for over 100 years they are in danger of falling apart completely. Once transferred, Cline said that they could be used safely, quickly and efficiently.

A panel from the NEH awarded the grant to the Harvard University Libraries after a competitive application process. Institutions seeking funds to support a project submit proposals stating how much money they want and precisely what it will be used for.

"Harvard has been involved with using microfilm for preservation for long period of time and has received various grants. There has always been a good track records of receiving these grants and carrying them out," Cline said.

In creating a proposal to submit to the NEH, Harvard University Libraries defined the various parts of the collections that they thought would benefit from the grant. The majority of the items in these collections are related to the history of science. The University is bound by the terms of the grant. The University is bound by the terms of the grant to use the funds for preserving the items indicated in its proposal.

The University Library does not plan to start at the beginning of their collections and attempt to transfer everything to microfilm. Instead,, they will take materials from collections that they have determined to be the most at risk and most in need of retirement from use.

The goal of the NEH, Cline said, is to try to help different institutions preserve the items they deem most important and that people will be able to use in the future.

The panel that awarded grants to various institutions tries to choose those with causes that help society in general and propose the preservation of relevant information, according to Cline.

Harvard's collection of materials on the history of science is particularly important to the public and to history because they are the oldest and most complete. This was likely a factor in the NEH'sdecision to award Harvard the grant, Cline said.

"Because of the age of the University there wasa lot going on here earlier than at other places.You wouldn't find the same strength and depth atother institutions. There is a huge confluence ofresources that has evolved here over time," shesaid.

Cline said that the microfilm would be easierto use because of its on-line index, but access tooriginal documents would still be available tothose who need them.

Harvard University Library is also working on aproject called the Library Digital Initiative, anattempt to digitize many of Harvard's oldercollections. The library is working on other itemsthat will be part of this project, but because ofthe restrictions of the grant, it would notfinance the entire Library Digital Initiative.

The NEH also announced this month that it wouldgrant $488,800 to the Isabella Stewart GardenerMuseum and $304,000 to the MassachusettsHistorical Society