Storing library materials in safes

Wendy Walters <wendyaw [at] unimelb__edu__au> writes

>Safes have been used in banking and other industries for centuries
>to store valuables, including documents. But, are they safe
>enclosures for rare and valuable books and manuscripts? I am worried
>about the microclimate.

My experience, based upon data loggers inside and outside fire-proof
safes/filing cabinets, is that the%RH inside such enclosures tends
to be higher than the ambient conditions.

Therefore, I have suggested that such enclosures be opened for a few
hours/day at least once a week to equilibrate.

Jack
Thompson Conservation Lab.
7549 N. Fenwick
Portland, Oregon  97217
USA
503-735-3942
Fax: 503-289-8723


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 20:8
                 Distributed: Wednesday, August 2, 2006
                        Message Id: cdl-20-8-005
                                  ***