Collection Disaster Plan

Part 2 - Disaster Actions

Section 9: Special Handling Instructions: Disaster Affected Collection Material

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9.1 Introduction

To avoid causing further damage to disaster affected collection material, staff should refer to the following special handling instructions. Appropriate handling depends on the type of material and the type and severity of the damage.

Material covered in this section includes:

  • Books, journals, pamphlets and newspapers
  • Large format sheet material
  • Small format sheet material
  • Artworks on paper
  • Easel paintings
  • Vellum, parchment and leather material
  • Photographic material
  • Electronic and magnetic media

9.2 Books, Journals, Pamphlets and Newspapers

9.2.1 Water Damage

During retrieval:

During recovery:

9.2.2 Mould
9.2.3 Fire Damage
9.2.4 Dust
9.2.5 General Physical Damage
9.2.6 Contamination

9.3 Large Sheet Material
Maps, Plans, Posters, Prints

9.3.2 Water damage
9.3.2 Mould
9.3.3 Fire Damage
9.3.4 Dust
9.3.5 General Physical Damage
9.3.6 Contamination

9.4 Small Sheet Material
(Manuscripts, Ephemera, Music Files)

9.4.1 Water Damage
9.4.2 Mould
9.4.3 Fire Damage
9.4.4 Dust
9.4.5 General Physical Damage
9.4.6 Contamination

9.5 Artworks on Paper

9.5.1 Water Damage
9.5.2 Mould
9.5.3 Fire Damage
9.5.4 Dust
9.5.5 General Physical Damage

9.6 Vellum, Parchment, Leather

9.6.1 Water Damage

9.7 Easel Paintings

9.7.1 Water Damage
9.7.2 Fire Damage
9.7.3 Mould
9.7.4 Dust
9.7.5 General Physical Damage
9.7.6 Contamination

9.8 Photographic Materials
(Albums, Microfiche, Microfilm, Motion Picture Film, Photographs, Negatives, Reel Film)

Water Damage

9.8.1 Albums
9.8.2 Wet Collodion Photographs
9.8.3 Daguerreotypes
9.8.4 Wet Glass Negatives and Photographs
9.8.5 Photographs on Paper
9.8.6 Photographic Negatives - (Black and White)
9.8.7 Photographic Negatives - (Colour)
9.8.8 Nitrate Negatives
9.8.9 Acetate Negatives
9.8.10 Motion Picture Film
9.8.11 Reel Film
9.8.12 Microfiche, Microfilm and Apperture Cards

9.9 Optical and Magnetic Media
Compact Disks, Computer Disks (Floppy Disks), Oral History Tapes (reel-to-reel, digital audio (DAT) cassettes), Video Tapes

Optical and magnetic media are an area of development where formats are being upgraded continuously. The special handling instructions listed below for this material reflect current thinking. During emergencies involving this material care should be taken to ensure actions reflect technological change and treatments are appropriate.

Note: Vacuum cleaners and other equipment with electric motors should not be used near magnetic media. Long suction hoses can be used to keep vacuum cleaners clear of this material

9.9.1 Water damage
9.9.2 Optical media (Compact Disks)
9.9.3 Floppy Disks
9.9.4 Magnetic Tapes (Oral History Tapes, Video Tapes, Computer Tapes)

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