Representatives from the Hawai'i State Library, 'Iolani Palace, the Bishop Museum and the Native Hawaiian Library will be part of a national effort to better safeguard America's historical artifacts.

According to a 2005 survey by nonprofit group Heritage Preservation, 190 million artifacts are in need of immediate conservation treatment and care nationwide. Heritage Preservation provides preservation advice to museums, libraries and individuals, according to its Web site.

"(The survey) found that nationwide, libraries and museums are not well prepared for long-term conservation," said Malia Van Heukelem, collections manager at 'Iolani Palace. "The No. 1 problem facing (the 'Iolani) collection is replacing our air-conditioning system."

As a result of the survey, four representatives from each state were invited to participate in a two-day conference sponsored by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services and Heritage Preservation to discuss solutions to problems facing museum and library collections.

The local representatives will attend the national conservation summit, the first of its kind, later this month in Washington, D.C.

Van Heukelem and Valerie Free, conservator of the Bishop Museum, said the two museums participated in the group's Heritage Health Index, hoping that survey's recommendations will be addressed in the summit.

Van Heukelem said the state Legislature recently budgeted money for the needed air-conditioning work at the palace, which will be completed in several years.

Proper conservation techniques also are an issue for public libraries.

"We're a very active and heavily used library," said Patrick McNally, head of the Hawai'i and Pacific section at the Hawai'i State Library. "Loss or damage is sometimes an issue."

McNally said the national meeting also will focus on increasing public access to the statewide library systems.

"For public library systems, our collections ... have been developed over several decades and contain rare works ... (of which) some have been digitized," McNally said. "This is one of the proactive activities they are looking to increase access."

The conservation summit will include 350 representatives from both small and medium-sized museums, libraries and historic organizations, a news release said.