[padg] RE: "first phase" housing solution for books?

[Janet Gertz <gertz@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Shrink-wrapping does work well.  I would add one caveat for anyone 
putting a lot of shrink-wrapped items into a storage facility.  There 
are limits in some local fire codes for the amount of plastic (including 
shrink-wrap) that can go into a single facility.  Tyvek has the 
advantage of being non-flammable, but of course is not see-through.

Janet Gertz
Columbia University Libraries

Peter D Verheyen wrote:
> We're going to start active shrinkwrapping here at Syracuse in the very near future (need to order the machine).
>
> The costs are low, barcodes... can be seen through the film and they keep all the pieced together, also protecting against abrasion. There is no way we could afford phase boxes for brittle/damaged materials in a "move to off-site environment - not from a staff time/cost or materials cost (not just in preservation but also marking and then ensuring the phasebox stays with the book. Shrinkwrapping is cheap to replace.
>
> There are some good articles in the AIC BPG annual and elsewhere. National Archives did it, Rutgers, Iowa, and others. 
>
> p.
>
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
> Peter D. Verheyen
> Head of Preservation and Conservation
> Syracuse University Library
> Syracuse, NY 13244
> 315.443.9756
> <pdverhey@xxxxxxx>
> <http://library.syr.edu/information/preservation> 
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Holly Robertson [mailto:hrob@xxxxxxx]
> Sent: Fri 2/13/2009 5:09 PM
> To: padg@xxxxxxx
> Subject: [padg] "first phase" housing solution for books?
>  
> Hi all, 
>
> I'm seeking innovative solutions for the protection of fragile general
> collection books (often brittle, many with paper covers or detached
> boards) that are part of a project to transport these materials from one
> library to a high density storage facility.  These books are not at the
> top of the queue in these tight budget times for our limited staff time
> and supply resources, but need what I'm calling a "first phase" of
> intervention - protection on the shelf and during the handling
> involved in processing and transport that will prevent further damage
> until additional intervention (a custom enclosure or collections
> conservation treatment) is possible and warranted.
>
> I've considered a couple solutions, described below, but wonder if you
> crafty folks have additional ideas:
>
> 1.  Tying up the books: not an option as many of these older, paper
> cover books already exhibit damage from tying tape / string
> 2.  Envelopes - for smaller and thin materials
> 3.  Shrink wrapping 
> 4.  "Board sandwich" - the book is sandwiched between two slightly
> oversized boards (smartly recycled scrap board from our regular
> box-making workflow) and tied up with string / tying tape; the slightly
> oversized board prevents damage from the ties.
> 5. "Polyester banding" - the book is wrapped in a sheet of polyester
> sized to its height; this sheet is then wrapped around the book like the
> horizontal piece of a wrapper (and can be creased at corners, or not),
> and attached with an adhesive backed velcro (that sometimes stays in
> place, or not) or tied with string / tying tape
> 6.  Co-Libri book jacket - only really an option for books with hard
> covers and boards attached
>
> Alternately, if anyone is looking for similar solutions and would like
> more information on the board sandwiching or polyester banding options,
> I'd be happy to provide more information.  
>
> Holly
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -------------------------
> Holly Robertson
> Head, Collections Care Section
> Preservation Directorate
> Library of Congress
> 101 Independence Avenue, SE, LM-G19
> Washington, DC 20540
> hrob@xxxxxxx
> 202 707 6579
> FAX: 202 707 3434
> www.loc.gov/preserv/
>
>