Pencil marks and encapsulation

Michael Miller <mmiller [at] dallaslibrary__org> writes

>... The grantwriter (not me)
>had planned, as part of the project, to encapsulate all of the
>individual map sheets. I had expressed my concerns that the
>polyester film could "lift" the pencil markings from the maps, thus
>losing all that history. I have now been tasked with finding some
>method or magic "product" that would protect the pencil notations
>from the static of the polyester film. Does anyone have any
>suggestions?

Although I am not sure exactly what types of pencil marks are
referred to, I have never had a problem encapsulating documents
which include normal writing and marks with a #2 or similar pencil.
Were this to be charcoal writings, etc., then that would be a
different situation.  I would test the stability of the pencil by
encapsulating similar documents and seeing whether or not the pencil
lifts off.  I would doubt it, if it is our normal graphite pencils.

Gregor Trinkaus-Randall, M.L.S., C.A.
Preservation Specialist
Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners
648 Beacon Street
Boston, MA 02215-2070
617-267-9400  x 236 or 800-952-7403 (in-state)
Fax: 617-421-9833


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 15:12
                   Distributed: Friday, July 13, 2001
                       Message Id: cdl-15-12-008
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