New Alkaline Papers

Penntech Papers, Inc. (White Plains, NY) announced that as of June 1, it would be making its two top trade book grades to an alkaline pH: Clarion Book Offset and Pennbook. They will meet or exceed the ANSI standard for paper permanence, even after aging for two days at 90°C and 50% RH.
Weyerhaeuser Paper Company (Wayne, PA) introduced its first business paper this spring, a 24 lb. cut sheet product called First Choice for Important Documents. It has a pH of about 8.0 and is made at the Rothschild mill.
The National Library of Canada is keeping a list of Canadian alkaline mills and papers, and the distributors who handle them, and is giving it out to anyone who requests information on them. The National Library's list is virtually identical to the one kept by this Newsletter, but the advantage to Canadians is that it costs less for a telephone call. Call Anna Lehn, Preservation Librarian, 613/996-7386. (The four companies are: Canadian Pacific Forest Products, Island Paper Mills, Weyerhaeuser Canada, and Domtar. The first three are 100%. alkaline.)
Grade Finders, Inc., will indicate in its new Fine Paper Directory which papers are alkaline and woodfree, not only for mill brands but for private brands too.