Exploring

External Factors

Storage and Handling

Film and electronic media are just as vulnerable to poor storage and handling as are paper-based collections. These issues are addressed in more detail in Session 5: Collections Care.

As a result of water damage, this gelatin glass plate negative exhibits mold growth, flaking and lifting emulsion, as well as breakage of the glass support.

Poor quality storage enclosures can damage the emulsions and image materials of film-based collections, as well as accelerate chemical damage. Poor handling can also cause problems. Glass plate negatives are vulnerable to breakage, scratching, and lifting of the emulsions when they are not handled carefully. CDs and magnetic tapes can be damaged by being placed in strong sunlight or in close contact with heat (e.g., radiators). Magnetic media can be demagnetized if placed in contact with a strong magnetic field. Storing tapes flat for long periods of time can result in uneven distribution of the tape pack. Dirt, dust, and fingerprints can easily damage the delicate surfaces of film, magnetic, and optical media. The data layer of CDs can be damaged by adhesive labels or by labeling using solvent-based markers.

Magnetic tapes, film, and optical media have the added complication of deterioration from frequent (or sometimes infrequent) use. Every time these media are played (or rerecorded or rewritten, in the case of tapes and some CDs and DVDs) there is a danger that they will be damaged—sometimes as a result of defective playback equipment, and sometimes just from the cumulative effect of many playbacks.