RE: arsclist analog and digital media storage conditions

["Copeland, Peter" <Peter.Copeland@xxxxx>]

Dear Brian,
    These are my views:
(1a). I prefer to store all cassettes vertically, for two reasons: (i)
quality cassette machines nearly always *play* cassettes vertically, so if
there's some physical or chemical degradation between the plastics film
lining the cassette shell and the tape itself, this will be minimised; and
(ii) you can store them in a way which allows you to read the spine! Yes,
the same would apply to all the other cassette formats you mention.
(1b). We're not using DVD-Rs yet, but in the case of CD-Rs we use standard
jewel-boxes and thermal-printing surface discs. The Bibliotheque national
Francaise has found unequivically that accelerated ageing of (commercial)
CDs is always correlated with the distribution of different colours of ink.
As a result, *they* have even abandoned thermal printing. We have just begun
the same policy for our "archive copies", relying on the manufacturer's
serial number to connect the disc to its documentation (which eliminates
most makes of blanks, of course). When for some reason it is *vital* to mark
a CD-R, I allow a soft graphite pencil mark in the central 2cm-diameter
circle, which isn't against the digital data. However, we don't go as far as
you for *storing* the results. The normal jewel cases carry a very
toughly-held self-adhesive label carrying a barcode (for stock-management
developments which are still to come); and the archive copies do not have an
inset card (since we also have human announcements), although the playback
copies do.
(3) I actually *prefer* steel shelving (or better still, steel stationery
cupboards), because they reduce the effect of the electromagnetic pulses
arising from lightning-strikes and nuclear weapons. As far as I know, most
magnetic media made since about 1956 have higher "retentivity" than a steel
stationery cupboard - at audio wavelengths, anyway; and since the cupboard
is rectalinear while the tape is circular, there is always at least a
quarter of an inch between the two. (Usually much more).
Peter Copeland
<peter.copeland@xxxxx>
-----Original Message-----
From: Brian Levy [mailto:xernaut@xxxxxxxxx]
Sent: 07 March 2002 18:45
To: ARClist; AV Media Matters
Subject: arsclist analog and digital media storage conditions

Hello everyone,

I have a few specific questions about media storage for you guys:

1.a.  Is it best to store analog cassette horizontally or vertically?  What 
about other tape media such as DAT, Mini DV, Hi-8, Digital 8, VHS, etc?  I 
suppose the same would apply in all cases?
    b.  What about CD-R's?  DVD-R's etc.?

2.  We have been storing our media in jewel cases (I read with interest the 
recent discussion on this) on which in the case of the CD-R's we remove all 
paper from the jewel case to avoid acid off-gassing, then dremel (engrave) 
into the jewel case (lightly!) the unique CD-R serial number and other 
archiving-relevant information (since we don't write on archival CD-R's at 
all, only on usage copies).  We store all analog cassettes and other tapes 
in their hard plastic cases.
Then we place the media in Sterilite or Rubbermade plastic storage 
containers which are somewhat more airtight than just storing in a filing 
cabinet or on a shelf alone.
Then, and here's a big question, especially with the magnetic media:
we've been storing these plastic containers full of precious media in 
_metal_ filing cabinet drawers.  We're wondering if this isn't a very bad 
idea due to potential magnetic fields created as the containers are rubbed 
against the metal drawers as they are taken in and out?

3.  And if metal should be kept far away from magnetic media, what would a 
more recommended storage container material be?  Is plastic ok, for that 
matter (including the Sterilite containers)?

Any other comments on this topic would be appreciated.

Thanks once again,

              Brian Levy

--------------------------------------------
Robert Brian Levy
Language Activist; Archiving Specialist
Executive Director
Kiwat Hasinay Foundation
651 S. Peoria Ave. Apt. 4
Tulsa, OK  74120  USA
1-580-515-6011
kiwat@xxxxxxxxxxx
http://www.ahalenia.com/kiwat


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