WHY PERMANENT PAPER?

In the 1980s, it was discovered that books were deteriorating in libraries and collections across America due to their publishing on acidic paper. This was a major threat to the longevity of books, and subsequently in 1989 the "Declaration of Book Preservation" was signed by prominent authors and publishers, declaring their "commitment to use acid-free paper for all first printings of quality hard-cover trade books in order to preserve the printed word and safeguard our cultural heritage for future generations."

There is a new, rising threat in the publishing community to the longevity and quality of books—the use of groundwood papers. Historically, lower-quality groundwood papers have been relegated to mass-market paperback books only, but not any more. Today, publishers are using groundwood papers in first-printings of many hardcover books—including many bestsellers, both fiction and non-fiction. This practice is increasing at an alarming rate, and is a serious threat to the quality and permanence of books in the United States.

The February 8 edition of the New York Times Hardcover Fiction Best Seller list only has TWO titles printed on Permanent Paper, the rest are printed on groundwood papers. We believe that PERMANENCE MATTERS, and want you to tell your publisher that your book deserves Permanent Paper.