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Appendix 2
Appendix 2: Developing a Preservation Strategy for
Cellulose Acetate
When developing a strategy for preserving collections on
cellulose acetate, an institution will need to consider the condition of the
material, its value or significance (which has a bearing on whether or not an
item is to be retained and preserved indefinitely), as well as its use. The
order in which these are done is not important.
It is desirable to segregate deteriorated cellulose acetate
to avoid contamination of other material.
The following table illustrates one method that might be
used to categorise collection material and identify appropriate preservation
strategies for each category. (In this example, material has been divided into
only two categories in terms of value or significance. If required, this table
could easily be modified to include extra categories, such as a 'medium value'
option.)
| Identify Material |
Cellulose
Acetate |
Assessment of
Value/Significance |
High Value |
Low Value |
Condition Assessment |
AD>2 deteriorated
|
AD<2 not yet
deteriorated |
AD>2 deteriorated
|
AD<2 not yet
deteriorated |
Access Requirements |
high |
low |
high |
low |
high |
low |
high |
low |
| Formulate strategy |
A |
B |
C |
D |
E |
F |
G |
H |
A:
Material in this category is of high value or significance,
has passed the autocatalytic point, and is frequently accessed. One strategy
for preserving this material might be to copy it as fast as possible (it should
probably be placed into freezer storage with no access allowed until it can be
copied). After the material has been copied, users may access the copy. The
original could then be frozen to arrest further deterioration.
B:
Material in this category is of high significance, has
passed the autocatalytic point, but is infrequently accessed. To arrest further
decay in deteriorated material, it might be frozen at -18ºC. As this will
make access difficult, institutions may choose to deny access altogether, to
make a copy only when the material is requested by a user, or to copy prior to
placing the material into freezer storage. The total volume of material in this
category may be important in determining the strategy adopted.
C:
Material in this category is of high value, is not yet
severely deteriorated, but is frequently accessed. Institutions may choose to
copy this material before deterioration becomes more serious, and to refer
users to the copy. The originals might then be cold stored, or placed in
freezer storage.
D:
The material is of high value, has not yet passed the
autocatalytic point and is infrequently accessed. For example, this material
might be placed in cold storage with low relative humidity.
E:
This material has been categorised as being of low value,
has deteriorated beyond the autocatalytic point, and is frequently accessed.
Institutions might decide to copy the material, and to either discard originals
(following quality control procedures), or to segregate them from other
material.
F:
For low value, deteriorated and infrequently accessed
material, institutions may decide to use cold storage (taking care to segregate
deteriorated material to avoid contamination), copy and discard, or simply
discard, depending on how significant and how deteriorated the material is.
G:
Low value, not yet deteriorated, high access: Institutions
might choose any of a range of strategies depending on available funds.
H:
Low value, not yet deteriorated, and low access needs: this
category should be the last to be dealt with, as funds permit.
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