NISO Paper permanence publications available Proceedings on Paper Aging Phenomena available

The following items appeared on NISO-L

    NISO Paper Permanence Publications and Tools Available from NISO

    Bethesda, MD (August 1, 1994)--A new publication available from the
    National Information Standards Organization (NISO) makes it easier
    for publishers and consumers to obtain permanent paper for
    publications or other projects.

    North American Permanent Papers, published by Abbey Publication in
    May 1994, lists 387 permanent papers manufactured in the U.S. and
    Canada that meet the NISO-developed American National Standard for
    Permanence of Paper for Publication and Documents in Libraries and
    Archives (ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992).  Papers that meet the ANSI/NISO
    standard must be able to last at least several hundred years without
    significant deterioration under normal use and storage conditions in
    libraries and archives.

    "This is the first publication of its kind to list permanent papers
    available from both U.S. and Canadian manufacturers," said Patricia
    Harris, NISO Executive Director.  "Consumers often have difficulty
    locating sources of permanent paper.  This publication makes it
    easier to locate sources of permanent paper and will help consumers
    find the best price among competing suppliers."

    The papers listed are manufactured by twenty-eight companies and are
    classified according to manufacturer's name, market brand, and type
    of paper (i.e., endleaf, letterpress, bond, copier, etc.).  The
    publication also provides phone numbers for each manufacturer so
    that readers can easily locate the nearest source of supply for any
    given paper.

    Also available from NISO are the American National Standard for
    Permanence of Paper for Publications and Documents in Libraries and
    Archives (ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992), and the Abbey pH Pen (Chlorophenol
    Red).

    ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992 establishes criteria for permanent paper,
    identifies the specific properties of such paper, and specifies the
    tests required to demonstrate these properties.  Through this
    standard, NISO seeks to encourage wider use of permanent paper and
    promote recognition of its importance to the long-term preservation
    of recorded knowledge.

    The Abbey pH Pen (Chlorophenol Red) ($5.00) offers a convenient and
    portable way to identify alkaline paper.  The pH Pen  makes a purple
    line on alkaline paper (pH above 6.8 or so) and a light yellow line
    on acid paper (pH below 6.0 or so).  Between 6.0 and 6.8, the mark
    will be yellow-tan or mixed tan and lavender.  For most papers, all
    you need to do is to draw a line on the surface and read it as soon
    as it dries. This tool is a quick aid for all libraries, especially
    those in the midst of preservation projects, and for publishers
    checking on the stock used by their printer.

    North American Papers ($15.00), ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992 ($24.00), and
    the Abbey pH Pen (Chlorophenol Red) ($5.00) all are available
    directly from NISO.  To place an order, call NISO Press toll-free at
    1-800-282-NISO.

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    ASTM Proceedings on Paper Aging Phenomena now available through NISO

    Bethesda, MD (August 1, 1994)--The Proceedings of the "Workshop on
    the Effects of Aging on Printing and Writing Papers" sponsored by
    the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) on July 6-8,
    1994 is now available from NISO Press.  The publication is of
    special interest to the publishers, production managers who are
    buying paper, and librarians working in the area of preservation and
    conservation.

    The three-day workshop provided a forum for scientists from the
    U.S., Canada, and Europe to provide input into a proposed research
    project that would investigate lignin's role in paper deterioration
    and the development of accelerated aging tests that could be used to
    predict the useful life of a given type of paper.  If successful,
    the research program could lead to the development of new national
    and international standards for permanent and durable book papers.

    The 18 papers included in the Proceedings review such topics as:

        *   "Overview of Paper Deterioration"

        *   "Paper Permanence: Present Needs and Future Opportunities"

        *   "The Mechanisms of Chemical Deterioration of Paper"

        *   "Artificial Aging of Paper: Correlation with Natural Aging"

        *   "The Optical Properties of Lignin-Containing Papers as They
            Relate to Paper Permanence"

        *   "Accelerated Aging of Paper: Can it Really Foretell the
            Permanence of Paper?"

        *   The recent Canadian Cooperative Paper Research Program, and
            more

    The "Proceedings of the ASTM Institute for Standards Research
    Workshop on the Effects of Aging on Printing and Writing Papers is
    available for $95.00 (plus shipping and handling) from NISO Press.
    To place an order, call NISO Press toll-free at 1-800-282-NISO.

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    The National Information Standards Organization (NISO) is a
    non-profit organization that develops and promotes
    consensus-approved standards used in library services, publishing
    and many other information-related industries.  NISO Standards
    address the communication needs of these industries in areas such as
    information retrieval, preservation of materials, information
    transfer, forms and records, identification systems, publication
    formats, and equipment and supplies.

    Contact:  Patricia Harris

        PO Box 1056
        Bethesda, MD 20827
        301-975-2814
        Fax: 301-869-8071

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 8:15
                  Distributed: Sunday, August 21, 1994
                        Message Id: cdl-8-15-008
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