In the 1970s a group of libraries in New England came together after realizing the deterioration of historical papers was occurring and that many libraries and other record-keeping organizations did not have the facilities and expertise to conserve documents. The document conservation center now handles documents from not only New England states but New York, Maryland, and others. Technicians at the conservation center have the tools to preserve paper documents so they can be viewed for generations to come. The center, a nonprofit organization, serves historical societies, libraries, museums and other organizations.