Physical storage
When you preserve an archive or collection, you hope it will last as long as possible. However, various factors can make this quite challenging. Paper can become acidic over the years, archive rooms can get dusty, pests might be attracted to your archive, a pipe might leak causing water damage, or your organisation might close down, putting your archive at risk of being lost... To minimise the risks of (information) loss or damage, there are several guidelines you can follow. We list a few of them in this article.
The section ‘Setting up your storage area’ delves into the different types of risk factors that can occur when preserving your collection. It also informs you about what you can do to mitigate these risks.
Perhaps you are looking for ways to repurpose your archive. The article ‘A new storage place for your archive and collections’ examines the types of repurposing and tells you where you can go to give your archive a new home.
The section ‘Preserving materials in your physical archive’ discusses the storage options for different types of documents such as newspapers and photographs, but also for objects and textiles. These are not always preserved in the same way as paper and require a specific approach.
Finally, in ‘Packaging materials’, you will find out what types there are, what they are used for, and where you can order them.
Lending services heritage for arts organisations
Specialised equipment is very useful for some preservation and management tasks. There are various heritage organisations in Flanders and Brussels where these tools can be borrowed for free, unless o...
Read moreWho keeps what in collaborations?
Collaboration is common in the arts sector. This is a positive thing, but it also brings specific challenges regarding archive care and management. There are project-based collaborations (e.g. co-pr...
Read moreOverview of professional storage and preservation institutions
In Belgium, there are various professional storage and preservation institutions – archives and museums – where artists or arts organisations can deposit their archives. In this article, you’ll lea...
Read moreOrganising your storage area
Archives can be vulnerable and easily get damaged, but a properly set-up storage place will ensure your archive remains in good condition. In this article, you’ll learn: What risk factors can threa...
Read moreA new storage place for your archive and collections
There may come a time when you can no longer – or no longer want to – manage your archive yourself. It then makes sense to look for a new storage place for your archive and/or collections. In this a...
Read morePreserving materials in your physical archive
It’s important that your archive or collection is preserved properly so that no information is lost – and minimising known threats as much as possible reduces this risk. In this article, you’ll lear...
Read morePackaging materials
To guarantee the good preservation of a paper archive or collection, it’s important to ensure suitable packaging. There are various options available for this. In this article, you’ll learn: Why do...
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