Volume 16, Number 2
Apr 1992

Kitchen Chemistry Revisited

It seems there is always someone around advising librarians and other citizens to use deplorable methods of preservation. The latest such method was published in the December College & Research Library News: to bake deteriorating tape recordings in the oven at home, or to heat them with a blow dryer in a box to readhere the oxide layer. If all goes well, the tape can be played without shedding. If anything goes wrong, the tape is lost. This is NOT a home remedy. For readers who want reliable information, there are bibliographies and articles on this problem, the "sticky shed syndrome." A good place to start is with The Midwestern Archivist, vol. XVI #1 1991 which contains three articles and one annotated bibliography on preservation of sound recordings, and covers the sticky shed syndrome. It can be ordered for $3.50 + 50¢ postage from Kevin Leonard, MAC Secretary-Treasurer, University Archives, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208-2300.