The paper proposes a critical reflection on collection maintenance activities, to which Italian legislation gives a fundamental role in the preservation of cul tural heritage. Starting with the analysis of the definition of “manutenzione” (maintenance) given by the Codice dei beni culturali e del paesaggio (Code of Cultural Heritage and Landscape), the work focuses on specific activities and maintenance interventions in libraries and archives, underlining their importance and how they differ from both prevention and co nservation treatments.