~ SAVING YOUR STUFF ~

​The GOLDEN RULE of Conservation: DO NO HARM
The GOLDEN RULE of Collection: WE CAN’T KEEP EVERYTHING
 
DO YOUR BEST ~ WE’RE ALL HUMAN!
The Good
  • Acid-free paper, acid-free tape, acid-free everything
  • Photo mounting hinges
  • Document repair tape
  • Plastic paper clips
 
The Bad
  • Laminate
  • Rolling or folding photos
  • Folding paper (unless you’re OK with creases – sometimes you are)
  • Rubber cement, glue, regular tape
  • Metal (staples, paper clips)
  • Acidic paper (newspaper, colored paper)
  • Cheap scrapbook albums/magnetic photo albums
  • Ball-point pen / Inkjet printers
  • Direct sunlight/fluorescent lights, “in the elements”
  • Moisture/dryness
  • Recommended: no higher than 70° and between 30% and 50% humidity
  • Vermin, bugs (don’t store unboxed items on the floor)
  • Cardboard boxes

Solutions;
  • Acid-free, Acid-free, Acid-free
  • Reformat:
    • Newspaper articles: photocopy/scan
    • Analog material (cassettes, VHS, slides, etc.): check local companies or libraries for options to reformat
  • Replace metal clips, tape, glues
  • Use archival photo mounting hinges
  • Shelves, plastic bins with lids
  • Keep current with updating and/or migrating your software and online documents. Back up with a flash drive and/or The Cloud for storage.
  • You can always make an “analog” copy of documents (that is, print!)
  • Store in cool dark place
  • Mildew on books: 
        o   Remove any residual moisture (fan, airing out) and leave
                    overnight - set books on their spine and fan open pages
        o   Place inside plastic receptacle (or bag or box), leaving open, and
                    place inside a larger plastic bag
        o   In smaller bag, dump several boxes of baking soda or potpourri
        o   Seal larger bag and let stand enclosed for several days
  • If keeping physical items that require “machine intervention” (i.e., cassette tapes), be sure to keep the player to play it on.
 
Products
  • Archival folders, boxes, paper
  • Picture mounting corners, acid-free tape
  • Plastic storage bins


Sources:
                   Amazon products <www.amazon.com/archiving supplies>
                   Gaylord Archival Products <www.gaylord.com>
                   Northeast Document Conservation Center (NEDCC) <www.nedcc.org>

Wendy A. Sistrunk
International Librarian/Archives Chair
Mu Phi Epsilon
1504 S. Ash Ave.
Independence, MO 64052
[email protected]