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Re: Original binders



On Mon, 25 Feb 2002 12:39:19 -0500, Kristen Romano
<kromano@MAIL.PRATT.LIB.MD.US> wrote:

>I have a number of three ring binders that are leather and inscribed with
>the name of a person or foundation in my collections.  I want to take the
>papers out of the binders to put in acid-free folders and boxes, but I
>also want to keep the binders since they are part of the collection.
>Should I keep the papers in them?  Would people keep the binders?  How
>would you arrange them within the collection?
>

Well I have been taken to task by two of my esteemed (or is that steamed?)
colleagues (who shall remain nameless) concerning my previous response of
keeping the materials in the binders. So here I go again.
First of all not enough information has been provided about the materials
for one to make a valid assessment. So here goes

1. How old are the binders? 1 year, 5 years, 50 years, etc
2. Is it critical to the preservation of the materials that they be
transferred now into acid-free materials? (depends up on the age indicated
in the above) In other words can the transfer wait one or two years or must
it be done this year?
3. How many binders are we looking at? 1, 5, 50?
4. How many acid-free folders and boxes are required to house the materials?
5. How will this impact the budget?
6. If the binders are relatively young in age are there other portions of
the collection that are more deserving of this preservation effort?
7. How long will it take to do the transfer? How much staff time? Can
volunteers be used?
8. Why were the materials put into the binders in the first place? ie what
was the original purpose/reason for putting the materials in the binder?
Are the binders still being produced, and thus transferred to the archives
on a regular basis?

I guess what I am suggesting is some sort of preservation triage.


Peter Kurilecz CRM, CA
pakurilecz@aol.com

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