1. Preservation Essentials

2. Elements of Preservation
Planning
Environment
Storage, handling, and treatment
Protection

3. Planning Why saving? How will it be used? Time/Money Value of item
What works best for you
Setting priorities

4. Why Save? Collection Policy
What area are you trying to cover?
What are you documenting with your collection?
Who are you serving?
What types of material will you collect?
What do people expect to find in your collection?

5. Create A Good Environment
Avoid extremes in temperature and humidity
21° - 45%
Avoid or minimize light
Good air circulation
Monitor for insects, mold, etc.
Cleanliness
Keep away from food
Keep items dust free

10. Mold Likes Four Things
Moisture
Heat
Poor air circulation
Dark

12. Shelving Avoid wood Canopy tops Elevate bottom shelf at least 3”
Braced, sturdy
Appropriate depth for material
Avoid outside walls or insure items not up against wall

14. Handling Tips Handle as little as possible
Hands should be clean and free of lotions and creams when handling items
Store items unfolded whenever possible
If appears valuable, consult with expert to verify authenticity and value
Repairs and restoration best left to experts

15. Containers Protect from dust, light
Buffer against temp/RH fluctuations and disasters
Facilitate storage & retrieval
Subliminal message: Handle with care
Need to be appropriate for intended use and type of material

20. Tune out the word “archival”
Look for more specifics:
pH levels
Lignin content
Fade-resistance
Passes PAT (Photo Activity Test)

21. PAT: Photographic activity test, which evaluated chemical or photographic interactions between enclosure materials and photographic images
Buffered: an alkaline reserve of 2-3% calcium carbonate, which will neutralize acid contaminants
Life expectancy (LE): A rating for the expected longevity of recording materials and associated retrieval systems.

22. Webster’s Definitions
Lignin-Free
Webster’s Definitions
Lignin: 1. an organic substance that, with cellulose, forms the chief part of woody tissue. 2. in papermaking, impure matter found in wood pulp.
Free: not containing a specified substance (such as in sugar-free).

23. Plastics
Mylar Polyester – Gives support while allowing users to see the image
Polypropylene – Uncoated polypropylene is acceptable low cost alternative to polyester
Polyethylene – Lower cost alternative where clarity and rigidity is not needed
Avoid PVC and cellulose

26. Be Aware of Exceptions
Wool/Silk
Blueprints
Charcoal/Pastel
Gloves

32. COLLECTION SPECIFIC
Use—materials that are used frequently may be at higher risk than others. They include materials used by researchers or exhibited routinely.
Storage—collections that are stored under adverse environmental conditions or in damaging enclosures may require prompt preservation action.
Condition—items or collections in fragile condition may be at risk unless they receive attention quickly.
Value—absolute value (rarity, monetary worth, intrinsic or associational value, etc.) and/or relative value of collections to the institution may influence preservation priorities. Whether collections have long- or short-term value to the institution will also affect decision-making.
Format—whether or not materials need to be preserved in their original format will also influence priorities.

33. OVERALL
Impact—those actions that will result in dramatic improvement or a slowing of deterioration, and those that will affect the greatest number of items, may be the highest priority.
Feasibility—this factor is essential; it includes staffing levels and expertise, policy and procedural changes, political considerations, and financial considerations (outside funding, capital outlay, operating costs, expenses for materials and services). Even if the impact of a preservation action is high, it may be given a low priority if implementation is not feasible.
Urgency—there will always be some activities that require immediate action; collections may be damaged or lost, or an opportunity to act on a particular project may be lost, if action is not taken.

34. 1 2 3 4
High
FEASIBILITY
Low
Low
High
IMPACT

35. House unprotected
items in archival
boxes.

36. Added Protection Whatever you do should be reversible
Make back up copies or build in redundancies
Store originals separate from copy
Monitor
Insurance
Disaster response

37. Majority of collection is stored in highly acidic boxes.
Rebox into archival containers as time and
money allows. Monitor collection for signs of
damage from acidic boxes.