News
A tip from the Archivist
The Library of Congress has some suggestions for preserving newspapers that I thought might be of interest to anyone who wants to save the recent issues with President Obama on the cover. This non-work related archival tip from the LOC Preservation FAQ page can be found at http://www.loc.gov/preserv/presfaq.html. The best way to preserve the information in the stories is to photocopy or scan the images and print them out (or print out the online versions). Copier paper is non-acidic and will last much longer than newsprint. But, you do lose the feel of the original item that way of course.
How can I preserve my newspaper clippings?
Newspaper is made from wood fibers and it will turn dark and brittle very quickly, particularly when exposed to light. Although it can be chemically treated to slow down further deterioration, many of the treatments will also darken the paper. Newspaper will damage other paper or photographic materials with which they are stored if the other items are not protected from them.
The only way to preserve the original is to store them properly:
- Place clipping in a polyester film folder with a sheet of alkaline buffered paper behind it.
- Put the polyester folders in file folders and boxes of high-quality acid-free, alkaline buffered materials.
- Store in a cool and dry location, such as a closet in an air-conditioned room.
New Items in the Library
Physics Today, vol. 62, iss. 1
Boreal Environment Research, vol. 13, iss. 6
Arctic, vol. 61, iss. 4 and Supplement
Earth Observer, vol. 20, iss. 6
Filed under: ROCS Newsletter
