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Reasons to use gloves



I have an ongoing problem convincing people to use gloves in my archives.
Not the genealogists--they are only too happy to do whatever they need to
have access to materials about their relatives.  My problem is with two
important individuals, one a curator of a prints collection, the other a
museum director, who have refused to wear gloves. One told me that damage
increases with wearing gloves because they are too slippery (I bought the
gloves with gripper dots for his use, but that hasn't changed his mind).
The other claims to wash hands frequently, but I can't say that happened
during her visit.

What I need is evidence that wearing gloves actually helps the items being
handled, something I can point to when glove use is questioned by a
researcher.  I have done a quick check of the basic materials here, but
cannot find more than the statement that gloves should be worn due to the
possibility that finger oils can stain paper.  Some sources say only that
hands must be clean and dry before handling archival materials.  A check of
the listserv archives did not turn up anything substantial.  Does such
evidence occur somewhere?

Perhaps someone has guidelines on when to use gloves?  We do it by type of
collection (books do not require use of gloves, but all archival collections
do except when encapsulated in Mylar).  Is there a better way to decide who
needs to use gloves?  If you don't require the use of gloves, do you have
guidelines on the frequency of handwashing?

Thanks for any help. I can be e-mailed at the address below.

Sincerely,

Erin Foley
Archivist
Circus World Museum
550 Water Street
Baraboo, WI  53913

608-356-8342, ext. 3283
fax 608-355-7959
efoley.cwm@baraboo.com

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