~ 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 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
The Bad
Solutions;
Products
Sources:
Amazon products <www.amazon.com/archiving supplies>
Gaylord Archival Products <www.gaylord.com>
Northeast Document Conservation Center (NEDCC) <www.nedcc.org>
- 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]
International Librarian/Archives Chair
Mu Phi Epsilon
1504 S. Ash Ave.
Independence, MO 64052
[email protected]