The Library of Congress is conducting preservation studies of historic documents, manuscripts and other cultural objects using advanced capabilities for spectral imaging, which poses challenges for the collection, storage and retrieval of data and associated metadata to accepted standards. Imaging studies are being conducted of the Waldseemüller 1507 world map, and other maps from the Library of Congress Geography and Maps Division, including L'Enfant's 1791 Plan of Washington D.C., the Carta Marina 1516 world map, and a range of daguerreotypes, as well as drafts of the Gettysburg address probably in Lincoln's handwriting. This imaging research is built upon spectral imaging of the Archimedes Palimpsest project. Based on these studies, the Library of Congress is developing a proposed standard for a customization of the Resource Description Framework for the semantic description and interchange of preservation reference material. This will define a core set of data elements required to identify and minimally describe a sample of reference material. The core data elements will need to provide methods for identification of and linkage to supporting files of multiple types: spectra, images, and documents. A proof of concept XML schema is being developed to help define best practices for adding further modules to the standard. With this metadata and data structure, libraries, archives and museums will not only be able to integrate spectral imaging as a useful tool for scientific and preservation studies, but be able to share data for effective storage, retrieval and collaboration to shared standards, nationally and internationally.