POST-IT notes

Regarding the request for information on Post-it notes:

   "Conservation Implications of Yellow Sticky Tabs" by Robin Siegel,
    conservator, National Geographic Society printed in _Topics in
    Photographic Preservation_

This information was printed in the Abbey Newsletter, July 1989, vol. 13
#4, page 65:

    _Removable Self-Stick Notes_

    The lab has examined two brands of removable self-stick notes,
    including 3M Scotch Post-it Notes and AMB brand Attention Note Pads.
    Although the two brands of notes employ different adhesives, the
    test results were similar.  Adhesive remained on sheets to which the
    notes were adhered after aging two weeks at 80 degree C, 65% RH.
    Evidence of adhesive was found even when the notes were applied to
    sheets and removed immediately.

    It is also important to note that while neither adhesive lifted
    electrostatic images when removed immediately from typical
    electrostatic copies, both lifted the image when removed after aging
    two weeks at 80 degree C, 65% RH.

    In addition to adhesive transfer, NARA chemists noted that some
    colors of the notes tend to run when wet and that some of the papers
    tested contain lignin and alum-rosin sizing.

    On the basis of these findings, the national Archives recommends
    that no removable self-stick notes be used on any paper records that
    have permanent value.

    --From the Conference of Inter-Mountain Archivists _Newsletter_,
    January 1989

    **** Moderator's comments: Thanks also to Patricia Denham
    <pat.denham [at] law__uc__edu>, of the University of Cincinnati Law
    Library, who sent in a copy of the text quoted here.

Artemis BonaDea
Conservation Technician
Alaska State Library
Box 110571
Juneau, AK  99811
907-465-2924
Fax: 907/465-2990

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 8:74
                  Distributed: Thursday, March 9, 1995
                        Message Id: cdl-8-74-007
                                  ***