RE: arsclist analog and digital media storage conditions

["Richard L. Hess" <ArcLists@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Dear Brian,

I have one concern about your strategy:

> 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?

I am more concerned about

(1) the long-term breakdown products of the Sterilite or Rubbermaid (made?) 
products

(2) the lack of breathing for the tapes (at least). A buildup of 
decomposition gasses is to be avoided for older acetate tapes especially. 
In fact, if vinegar syndrome should involve one acetate tape in the bin, 
then I would suspect it would migrate in short order to the other acetate 
tapes in the bin. While I wouldn't suggest putting the tapes in an 
airstream, I wouldn't suggest sealing them up, either. Many film archives 
are using ventilated film cans today for this reason.

Cheers,

Richard

> 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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Richard L. Hess                              richard@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Glendale, CA USA                           http://www.richardhess.com/
Web page: folk and church music, photography, and
                 broadcast engineering

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