Magnetic media

The Commission on Preservation and Access in collaboration with the
National Media Laboratory have undertaken an applied research project
entitled "Archival Management of Materials Created on Magnetic Media."

The NML brings to the collaboration, an extensive program of
experimental research and mathematical modeling on a range of magnetic
media types.

These data track media stability on such physical and chemical
properties as:  binder hydrolysis, remanence, coercivity, top coast
adhesion and friction.  Changes in these properties are plotted over
time at various temperatures and relative humidities.

The Commission and the NML will be seeking to develop management tools
for Preservation Administrators based upon NML's research.  However, in
order to concentrate on the types of media that make most sense to
libraries and archives, assistance is sought in the following areas:

    *   Types of magnetic media that make up the bulk of extant
        collections.

    *   Types of media used or contemplated for migration or back-up.

    *   And/or types by manufacturer, magnetic particle, binder and
        substrate.

Preservation Administrators who feel that they might be able to
contribute but require more information are requested to contact:

    James R. Druzik
    The Getty Conservation Institute
    jdruzik [at] getty__edu

    Maxine Sitts
    Commission on Preservation and Access
    msitts [at] cni__org

or

    Chris Ward
    New York State Archives
    cward2%sedofis [at] vm1__nysed__gov

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 8:25
                Distributed: Wednesday, October 5, 1994
                        Message Id: cdl-8-25-006
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