Preservation: Interdisciplinary by Necessity Emerging technologies offer the potential to radically change the nature of the tasks that constitute the preservation process. The adaptation of new technologies to CRM has positive implications for the multidisciplinary training of preservation professionals. Increasingly, new computer processing and communications technologies are offering these professionals opportunities to span a broad range of information sources. As preservation professionals assimilate a multidisciplinary language of increasing complexity and sophistication, they will become more adept at the synthesis of relevant data into the decision processes. The ultimate benefit of this application of emerging technologies to CRM processes will be better informed decisions, and as a consequence, better and more cost effective protection of this nation's cultural heritage. The thrust of preservation research efforts must be directed towards articulating applications and harnessing technologies in ways that can make an appreciable difference in the preservation process. This objective demands that the research itself be fully interdisciplinary, bringing a variety of the perspectives to bear on the task of devising preservation applications for emerging computer and communications technologies. Diverse professional backgrounds can create a synergism that has the capacity to develop innovative and creative solutions to CRM needs. The breaking down of traditional interdisciplinary boundaries is essential to the resolution of the complex problems challenging the preservation community on all fronts. Professional Prerequisites Forecast Summary