Disaster Recovery for books, documents, photographs and artwork

HDRS Priority User Services

The Priority User Service is the UK's and Ireland's oldest and most trusted emergency disaster recovery service for libraries, archives, museums, record offices and private sector archives.

Who subscribes?
Over 700 institutions currently subscribe, thus securing priority access to our salvage teams and restoration facilities, a vital assurance when further deterioration to paper after water-damage is so time-critical and is preventable by swift stabilisation through freezing. To find out more about Member Benefits please click here.

Other members include the majority of UK and Ireland local authorities, the majority of universities, as well as many FTSE 100 companies, Government Departments such as the DTI, and National Institutions such as the Public Record Office and the British Library, the National Archives or Ireland and the National Library of Ireland.

Why HDRS?

We specialise in disaster recovery for paper-based media: all HDRS’ 25 staff are dedicated to this area and we handle over 350 projects each year, from small incidents caused by a leaking pipe to major events such as the Norfolk Record Office fire/flood. Our experience, expertise and track-record in this specialist field are unsurpassed by any other firm.
All HDRS’ staff are highly trained both by our consultant conservators and to Damage Management industry standards and have a wealth of experience in dealing with damage in archives, libraries and museums.
Quality assurance: HDRS has achieved ISO 9001:2000 accreditation, our proven track-record offers further evidence to the quality of our operations and Ken McKenzie is a BDMA Specialist Restorer in paper.
HDRS’ technology is recommended by UNESCO as the optimal method for drying paper .