Good quality storage furniture, non-damaging storage enclosures, and careful handling increase the life expectancy of collections, while careless handling and poor quality furniture and enclosures can actively damage materials. Poor housekeeping can cause further damage by encouraging dust, dirt, pests and mold.

Choosing the proper storage furniture and enclosures can be confusing: there are many available choices, and the terminology can be unclear. What constitutes good-quality storage furniture? Can wood shelving be used? What type of metal shelving is recommended? What type of enclosure is best for each type of collection? What do the terms "archival" and "acid-free" really mean?

Careful handling is essential to ensuring that collections are not damaged when they are used—during retrieval, consultation by researchers, reshelving, and/or exhibition. What procedures are appropriate? More importantly, how do you make certain that staff and users are familiar with these procedures and follow them?

Storage, handling, and housekeeping are not particularly scintillating topics, but they are crucial to the long-term survival of your collections. Awareness of proper storage methods, as well as education and training of users and staff, will contribute significantly to your collections' well-being and longevity.

Learning Objectives

This session will help you:

• explore best practices for storing paper-based and related collections, as well as for collection maintenance and handling;
• evaluate current storage methods for your collections;
• evaluate your institution's current handling methods, user/staff education practices, and exhibition practices;
• determine what changes are needed to improve storage, handling, housekeeping, exhibition, and staff/user education; and
• identify additional resources to help you learn more about collections care.