Oversized documents

I am seeking guidance on the preservation of oversized documents;
specifically land plats recorded in the Circuit Court Clerks offices in
the Commonwealth of Virginia.  The majority of these plats, which date
from the mid-1800's to the present are approximately 2' x 3' and bound
in either a post binding or a sewn binding.  Each volume can contain up
to 200 plats, thus creating a very heavy and awkward situation for
photoduplication.  The more common problems encountered are the leaves
tearing from the binding, the plats having been glued to the post-binder
paper, and the tearing of the documents themselves from inappropriate
handling (i.e. photocopying).

There are 121 offices in the Commonwealth and all of them have this
problem, some to a lesser degree than others.  There is a grant program
in place to address this type of need, but of course funds are limited.
Any helpful experience from the brain trust would be appreciated.

Glenn T. Smith
Preservation Grants Administrator
Virginia State Library and Archives
(804) 371-2616

                                  ***
                  Conservation DistList Instance 7:12
                   Distributed: Monday, July 19, 1993
                        Message Id: cdl-7-12-003
                                  ***