Paper Collections: Documents, Art on Paper, Posters, Maps, etc.
- How do I preserve my paper collections (e.g., documents, works of art on paper, posters, maps, etc.)?
- What should I do if my paper collections have damage (e.g., dirt, tears, stains, discoloration, fading, old tape, etc.)?
- How do I unroll paper (e.g., a poster)?
- Is it okay to use self-stick (pressure-sensitive) tape if it's "archival"?
- How can I enhance faded ink?
- How do I pack paper collection items for storage or shipping?
- What should I do if my papers get wet or moldy?
- How do I mat and frame my paper collection item?
- Will UV-filtering acrylic or glass ("glazing") protect my framed paper item from yellowing or fading?
- Should I use glass or acrylic glazing in my frames?
- How do I clean glass or acrylic glazing?
- How do I make a long-lasting scrapbook?
- What is permanent paper?
- Are there permanent or archival printing and writing inks?
How do I preserve my paper collections?
The most effective and economical preservation measures are preventive: proper storage, storage environment, and handling.
What should I do if my paper collections have damage (e.g., dirt, tears, stains, discoloration, fading, old tape, etc.)?
Conservation work to address damage is time consuming and costly to do correctly.
If the item has collector's value, the damage is minor, and is infrequently handled, consider leaving it as-is and focusing on improving storage conditions.
If the item is of personal/sentimental value only, the damage is minor, and some risk of further damage from do-it-yourelf repair is acceptable, the Northeast Document Conservation Center has put together useful information on Surface Cleaning of Paper 
and Repairing Paper Artifacts . Do not use self-stick tape, even if it is marketed as "archival." The goal is to enable safer handling to pair this with an effort to improve storage housing (i.e., boxing) and storage environment.
If the item is of particular value, has progressing damage, is handled frequently, or is otherwise complicated, consider consulting a paper conservator.
How do I unroll paper?
If risk of damage from doing-it-yourself is acceptable, the item generally is in good condition (e.g., not brittle, not breaking), and there are no water-sensitive inks or colors, the paper can be relaxed for gentle unrolling by careful humidification. See How To Flatten Folded Or Rolled Paper Documents [PDF: 576 KB / 4 p.] (National Park Service).
If risk of damage is not acceptable or the item is not in good condition or has questionable inks or colors, consult a paper conservator.
Is it okay to use self-stick (pressure-sensitive) tape if it's "archival"?
Once applied, self-stick tape, also known as "pressure-sensitive" tape, can be extremely difficult to remove and can cause problems over time. If risk of further damage from do-it-yourelf repair is acceptable, the Northeast Document Conservation Center has put together useful information on Repairing Paper Artifacts . If you feel the item must be mended and possible damage from do-it-yourself repair is not acceptable, consult a paper conservator.
How can I enhance faded ink?
Once ink has faded (from natural aging, light exposure, or other environmental or internal factors), the mark cannot be restored to its previous intensity. This is why prevention, through proper storage, storage environment and limiting light exposure, is very important. Sometimes, faded inks can still be seen using parts of the electromagnetic spectrum outside the visible region (e.g., in infrared or ultraviolet ("IR and UV Examination of Egyptian Papyrus," Brooklyn Museum).
Imaging can be complicated and ultraviolet light is damaging to paper, inks, and human tissues, including the eye. A conservator or regional conservation center can provide more information about a particular object after examination and can assist with imaging.
How do I pack paper collection items for storage or shipping?
See Packing and Shipping Paper Artifacts (Northeast Document Conservation Center).
Follow recommendations for good storage environment.
What should I do if my papers get wet or moldy?
Take necessary safety precautions if the water is contaminated with sewage or other hazards or if there is active (wet or furry) mold growth.
Spread out papers to air dry immediately upon getting wet or discovery of mold and control the ambient temperature and relative humidity. If newly wet or moldy papers cannot be air dried within two days, prepare and freeze -- see Freezing and Drying Wet Books and Records (Northeast Document Conservation Center).
See also Emergency Salvage of Flood Damaged Family Papers (U.S. National Archives and Records Administration).
If there are mold stains only, ensure ambient relative humidity stays between 40-65% to prevent regrowth; check items regularly.
How do I mat and frame my paper collection item?
Sound quality matting and framing is very important. See the Library's Preservation Guidelines for Matting and Framing.
Note: Permanent or long-term display of paper-based materials is never recommended because of the permanent and irreversible damage caused by light. If the item is of personal, monetary, or historic value, consider matting and framing a facsimile and keeping the original in a good storage and storage environment.
Will UV-filtering acrylic or glass ("glazing") protect my framed paper item from yellowing or fading?
Filtering out ultraviolet radiation removes the most damaging part of sunlight, but all light is damaging to paper, not just ultraviolet light.
Should I use glass or acrylic glazing?
Acrylic glazing is now available as "anti-static," which can be safely used to frame works with powdery media like pastels, charcoal, and graphite pencil. Acrylic glazing can filter out ultraviolet and is lighter, less brittle, and therefore safer to handle than glass. The downsides to acrylic is that it scratches more easily and is less rigid than glass and tends to bow in a frame when the acrylic sheet exceeds a certain size.
How do I clean glass or acrylic glazing?
Dust with a lint-free soft cloth, especially when cleaning acrylic glazing. If it is necessary to use a wet cleaning agent, use an appropriate agent for the glazing type (acrylic or glass) and apply the cleaning agent to the cleaning cloth; do not directly apply the agent to the glazing.
How do I make a long-lasting scrapbook?
See Preservation Measures for Scrapbooks and Albums.
What is permanent paper?
Permanent paper is defined by the National Information Standards Organization (NISO) in ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992 (R1997), Permanence of Paper for Publications and Documents in Libraries and Archives, which specifies a 2% minimum alkaline reserve, less than 1% lignin, good tear resistance, and a pH range between 7.5 to 10.0.
The U.S. Federal Government uses permenent paper for federal records, books, and publications of enduring value.
Are there permanent or archival printing and writing inks?
Inkjet printers outfitted with pigment-based inks (as opposed to dye-based inks) and the appropriate matching paper as designated by the manufacturer can provide more stable and permanent images if the prints are stored in the dark, at room temperature, and at a relative humidity range between 30-50%. The Wilhelm Imaging Research, Inc. publishes permanence ratings for various brands of inkjet printers, with the associated pigment-based inks and matching papers.
