Introduction to the series Geoffrey Yeoxi Preface xiii Acknowledgements xv 1Introducing archive preservation 1 How has the relationship between conservation and preservation developed? 2 Definitions 2 Summary 3 Notes 4 2Understanding archive materials and their characteristics 5 Paper 6 Parchment 11 Inks: from carbon ink to laser printing 15 Photographic materials 18 Audiovisual materials: wax cylinders, shellac and vinyl disc and film 20 Optical materials: CDs and DVDs 25 Magnetic materials: tape, hard disks and floppy disks 26 Minidiscs 27 Summary 27 Notes and references 27 3 Managing digital preservation 29 Why is digital preservation management important? 30 Why is digital preservation difficult? 32 Costs of digital preservation 35 What should be preserved? 36 Who should be involved? 37 What is the starting point? 39 What happens next? 42 Summary 44 Notes and references 44 4 Archive buildings and their characteristics 47 How has the concept of archive buildings developed? 47 How did archive buildings develop in the UK? 48 What other ideas have developed for archive buildings? 52 What should be considered before building or adapting an archive? 53 What needs to be explained? 54 Location 55 How should the architect be briefed? 58 What are the problems with adapted buildings or historic buildings? 64 Summary 66 Notes and references 67 5 Safeguarding the building and its contents 69 Security 69 Fire prevention, detection and suppression 76 Water detection 81 Environmental issues 81 Summary 82 Notes and references 82 6 Managing archival storage 83 Why do environmental conditions matter? 84 What needs to be controlled? 85 Mould: why is it such a threat? 87 Measuring and monitoring temperature and humidity 89 Measuring and monitoring light levels 92 Measuring and monitoring pollution levels 93 Special arrangements 97 How can comparative costs be assessed? 99 Shelving, racking and plan chest specifications 100 What kind of boxes and enclosures should be used? 104 What kind of equipment is needed? 108 Possible future developments 110 Summary 111 Notes and references 112 7 Managing risks and avoiding disaster 113 Why undertake an 'operation-hope-not'? 114 Definitions 115 Who is responsible for disaster planning? 118 What should be saved first? 119 Development of a disaster control plan: where to start 120 Prevention 122 Preparation 126 Reaction 130 Recovery 136 Evaluation 138 Summary 138 Notes and references 139 8 Setting up a conservation workshop 141 What information is needed to decide about establishing a workshop? 142 Staffing needs 142 The planning process 146 Summary 153 References 154 9 Moving the records 155 What are the risks? 156 Planning the project 157 Briefing a suitable removal firm 162 Minimum removal equipment specifications 164 Preparing for the move 168 The move itself 175 And afterwards .. 175 Summary 176 Notes and references 176 10 Exhibiting archives 177 How can the overall risk be minimized? 178 Managing the care of documents in exhibitions 182 Planning and preparing for an exhibition 190 During the exhibition 195 And afterwards .. 196 Summary 197 Notes and references 197 11 Handling the records 199 The problem 200 Improving the quality of care: how can it be achieved? 201 Where and how can good practice be demonstrated to readers? 208 How can staff be best trained? 210 Summary 213 Notes 213 12 Managing a pest control programme215 What are the common pests? 216 What damage do pests do to archival materials? 218 Where are they likely to be active? 218 What are the signs of an infestation? 220 How can they be prevented from getting into the collections?220 Why are previous eradication measures no longer used? 221 Why is integrated pest management (IPM) now adopted as a strategy? 222 How can IPM be introduced? 223 Setting traps 225 Dealing with an infestation 225 Ongoing management 227 Summary 228 Notes and references 228 13 Using and creating surrogates 229 Copying archive material 230 What copying techniques are available? 231 What problems arise? 235 Developing a preservation copying policy: why do it? 237 How can the copies themselves be preserved? 238 Selecting correct copying methods 239 Preparation of material 240 Copying of material in-house 244 Use of outside agencies 245 Summary 246 Notes and references 247 14 Putting preservation into practice 249 Choices and options 250 Who is responsible? 250 What is a preservation policy? 251 What about strategies? 254 Costs, funding and options 257 How is a programme planned and put into action? 260 And the results? 262 Reference 263 Appendices 1 Sample lending policy: National Archives of Australia 265 2 Equipment for a workshop 269 3 Small tools and equipment required by each conservator 277 4 Conservation materials 281 5 Benchmarking entries: MLA 287 Bibliography 289 British and international standards relating to archive preservation 297 Professional organizations worldwide 301 Index 303