Volume 18, Number 1 .... January 1996

Publications

North American Permanent Papers, 1995

Abbey Publications has revised and enlarged its 1994 list of North American papers that qualify as permanent by the U.S. standard, ANSI-NISO Z39.48-1992, "Permanence of Paper for Publications and Documents in Libraries and Archives." Twenty percent more mills responded to the survey in 1995 than in 1994, and the list of papers for 1995 is 10% longer than last year, although it was kept as short as possible by combining similar entries and weeding out doubtful entries.

Of the 423 papers in the list, 235 (55%) contain recycled fiber. Eight percent of the papers are 100% recycled; many contain 20% postconsumer waste. This confirms the conclusion based on last year's results, that recycled paper can also be long-lived.

The ANSI-NISO standard has four requirements: pH 7.5 to 10.0 for uncoated paper and 7.0 to 10.0 for the core paper in coated stock; a 2% alkaline reserve (calcium carbonate); tear index of 5.25 mNm² /g for uncoated paper and 3.50 mNm²/g for coated paper; and kappa number (a measure of lignin content) no greater that 7.

This year, the papers are listed only by company and type or use of the paper. The brand name list has been dropped. There is a new page on papers that can be safely used to store photographic materials, and on the Photographic Activity Test, which identifies the safe papers. This new page was added because many people use the list to find papers for their photo albums or books of mementos, not realizing that even a permanent paper may damage the color photographs or historic images stored next to it (Modern black and white photographs are probably safe with any permanent paper.)

The introduction and the sections on "The Nature of Permanence" and "Standards and Testing" have been extensively rewritten and updated. New sections have been added on recycled paper and the ISR research project on paper permanence, both compiled from back issues of the Alkaline Paper Advocate. There is also a page explaining how the papers are listed. The section on the U.S. permanent paper law, P.L. 101-423, remains virtually unchanged, as does W.K.Wilson's history of the development of permanent record papers.

Available from AIC:

Directory of Hand Stitches Used in Textile Conservation, Second Edition

Edited by Martha Winslow Grimm, illustrated by Rachel Paar, offered by the Textile Specialty Group. The spiral bound book is a compilation of hand stitches currently used by textile conservators including illustrations, diagrams, and information of how to complete each stitch. A section listing basic treatment processes along with the appropriate hand stitches to use in completing these processes is also included. A reference section lists other sources for information on textile conservation and hand stitches. 49 pp. $10 (plus $3 first book, $1 each add. for postage and handling).

Guide to the Maintenance of Outdoor Sculpture, Second Edition

Co-authored by Virginia N. Naude and Glenn Wharton. Drawn from materials assembled for the 1992 symposium "Maintenance of Outdoor Sculpture". $15 U.S. / $21 outside U.S.