Packaging and storage of the archive collections

Appropriate cleaning, packaging and storage reduces the risk of damage to the archive collections. Archival-quality enclosures, packaging and storage furniture provide protection from light, dust, handling and mechanical damage. They also provide a buffer against environmental fluctuation and aid document production and access. Within the strongrooms collections are stored on mobile and static steel shelving, wall-mounted metal map racks, and in plan chests.

6.1 Archive-quality materials are used for all enclosures, packaging and mounting. These include high quality acid-free paper and board, polyester sleeves and high purity papers for photographic enclosures, Tyvek seal bags, unbleached tape, and brass paperclips, all of which meet the technical specifications recommended in BS 4971:2017, and are purchased from reputable archive conservation suppliers.

6.2 The in-house box-making service makes most folders and boxes. A flatbed digital cutting machine and software creates both standard and bespoke packaging. This provides the optimum storage solution for the archive collections – an acid- free environment of light, but strong and stackable reusable packaging, which is safe for long-term storage, and easy for staff to handle. Supplies of standard boxes and enclosures, and polyester sleeves, are readily available for use.

6.3 We assess the physical condition of all new accessions in a designated area and provide appropriate preventive conservation treatment, including cleaning. Contaminated archive material, which has the potential to harm or infect other collections, is placed in isolation and assessed by trained conservation staff who determine appropriate treatment.

6.4 We carry out an ongoing programme of re-boxing and of cleaning and repackaging earlier accessions which are not housed to current standards.

6.5 We store archives in the strongrooms according to their physical nature and condition - on shelves, in plan chests, drawers and boxes as appropriate for their format. The location of items is clearly indicated by shelf signs and labels.

6.6 We seek to maintain a tidy and safe environment in the strongrooms. We carry out annual risk assessments and manual handling training to ensure up- to-date procedures for the safety of staff and collections.