This
week I did an appraisal on a collection that had been donated to a small town
public library. Just as a reminder
an archival appraisal refers to conducting a survey or overview of the
collection determining the extent and makeup of the collection and its
condition. From that review you
develop a processing plan.
The
first thing I noticed was the shelving used for the storage of the material.
Wood, of course. Plywood actually,
some unfinished. The collection
consists of books, photographs, scrapbooks and letters, none of which should be
next to wood because it contains acid, which will damage the material. Since throwing out one’s attractive
wooden bookcases is not an option what can one do to retard acid migration and
potential damage to your books and papers? The Library of Congress (http://www.loc.gov/preservation/about/faqs/books.html#wooden) recommends lining the shelves with
polyester or polypropylene film (used to be called Mylar) This material is available from all of
the archival supply houses. It is
inert and will serve to block the damage the wood can cause when it is direct
contact with paper or other material.
Polyester and polypropylene comes in thicknesses from 2mil to 5mil. It stands to reason that the thicker
the film, the more protection. I
recommend at least 3mil or higher depending on your budget. The thicker the material the more is
the expense. The 5mil material is
also quite stiff perhaps more than you might like. I'm partial to middles. Of course
another plus for polypropylene or polyester is that they are a clear plastic so
either are unobtrusive. The film, as it is called, also comes in various dimensions or can be bought in a long
roll so that it can easily be cut to the right size.
So
if you have valuable books or papers stored on wooden shelves you might want to
consider inserting a barrier between your valuables and the wood. It will promote longevity and deter the
damage caused by acid migration. Best of both worlds - pretty shelving for display with protection from the acid in the wood.
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