Putting It Into Practice

Storing Media Collections

Sound Recordings and Videotapes

Some collections may contain a variety of older sound recordings, from cylinder recordings to vinyl LPs, as well as various formats of videotape. Like other media, they require careful handling and a stable moderate environment.

Cylinders and Discs

Cylinder recordings should be stored standing on end; all discs should be stored vertically (on edge). Take care that shelves are solid and can bear the weight of discs: LPs can weigh as much as 45 pounds per shelf foot, and 78 and acetate discs are even heavier. Since discs tend to put most of their weight along the center line of the shelf, special shelving may be required. It should have dividers that reach from top to bottom and front to back, spaced four to six inches apart, to guard against warping of discs. Storing discs of different sizes together may also cause warping and should be avoided.

Record sleeves without text or graphics should be replaced with a high-density polyethylene sleeve. If the original sleeve must be retained, some of the polyethylene sleeves can fit inside the original sleeve.

Tape (Open-Reel and Audio/Video Cassettes)

Store all tapes vertically (on edge), in preservation-quality boxes. Do not lay any recordings flat, not even audio cassettes or videotapes. For open-reel tapes, replace reels that have slotted hubs. Only reels with unslotted hubs should be used for storage. Tapes should be played completely through, then stored without rewinding (tails out). They should be rewound just before playing them again.

When playing tapes, make sure that you are familiar with the playback equipment and that the tape is properly inserted into the machine before playing. When opening tape containers, be aware of any odor that might indicate binder hydrolysis or vinegar syndrome; such tapes should not be played. The tape should also be examined for any irregularities in the tape pack (gaps or slips, where the tape pack is not flat) that need to be corrected before playback.

Tape demagnetization is not usually a serious problem, but nevertheless, keep magnetic tapes away from any objects containing magnets of any size. Do not operate any machines (like vacuums) that might be a source of electromagnetic fields near areas where tapes are stored. See the Association of Moving Image Archivists (AMIA) Videotape Preservation Fact Sheets for more information on caring for magnetic tapes.