Your family heritage and personal collections are precious to you and to future generations and it’s important to preserve these mementos in the best way possible.
The most important thing you can do to safe guard your treasures is to store them in a stable, cool, and dry environment. Overly dry conditions cause leather to crack and damp conditions cause mold. Try not to place any family treasures in direct sunlight as it can cause fading. Good housekeeping is also important. You should dust objects and keep storage areas clean. This will help prevent insect infestations.
The following are some tips for handling your treasures.
Books
· Shelve upright supported by book ends if needed.
· Store large volumes flat.
Paper
· Store paper items flat, rather than folding and unfolding.
· Paper materials may be store in acid-free file folders.
Photographs
· House photos in protective enclosures to keep out gritty dirt and dust which can scratch images.
· Store all prints and negatives in acid-free boxes. If possible, keep negative separate from print materials.
· Avoid albums constructed of highly colored pages. Never use commercially available “magnetic” or “no stick” albums. These materials will deteriorate quickly over time and could damage photographs.
Proper care, handling and storage of your treasures will help to ensure that they are available for generations to come.
For more information on “Preparing, Protecting, and Preserving” your family treasures visit the following website: http://www.loc.gov/preservation/family/
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