Environment for Mixed Media Collections

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Environment for Mixed MediaCollections
IPI Media Storage Quick Reference

• Jean-Louis Bigourdan
• Image Permanence InstituteRochester Institute of
  Technology

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Wide Variety of Media Types

• Glass plates
• BW and color films
• BW and color prints
• Ink jet prints
• Magnetic tapes
• CDs and DVDs
• All media are vulnerable

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Silver Image Decay

• Glass plates
• BW film
• BW prints

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Color Image Decay

• Color film
• Color print
• Ink jet prints

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Layer Separation

• Glass plates
• CDs and DVDs

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Improper Storage Causes Decay
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Stability Studies and Field Experience Indicate

• Variety of decay manifestations
• Promoted by improper storage
• Many threaten several media
• Some are specific to one medium

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Proper Storage Has Multiple Benefits
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Proper Storage Minimizes Decay

• Low T and moderate RH slow chemical decay rate
• Moderate/low RH minimizes biological decay
• Relatively steady T and RH minimizes mechanical
  decay

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Room Temperature Causes Fast Chemical Decay

• Color wheelat room temperature (30 density
  loss)
• At room conditions dyes decay fast

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Cold Temperature and Low RH Benefit Dye Stability

• Color wheel at low temperature (30 density loss)

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Inherent Stability Is Media- Dependent

• What is the most unstable component?

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Polyester Is More Stable Than Nitrate and Acetate
Supports
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Silver Is More Stable Than Color Dyes
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ISO Long-Term Storage Recommendations

• Specific medium requires special storage
• Maximum temperature
• RH Range
• Allowable daily fluctuations

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Almost All Media Have ISO Standards for Storage

• Recommended storage conditions for each medium
• Often applied to new materials
• Do not take into account aged collections
• or mixed collections

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Which Media Should Prevail in Defining Storage
Conditions ?
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Defining Suitable Storage The Archivists
Challenge

• What storage does the collection need?
• One or several special storage environments?
• Which environments are suitable?
• Are there possible compromises?

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Developing the IPI Media Storage Quick Reference
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IPI Media Storage Quick Reference Objectives

• Information in short and accessible format
• Information on materials and preservation issues
• Address needs of institutions in terms of storage
  for collections of mixed media types

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How To Derive Simplified Storage Guidelines?
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Four Environments Defined by Temperature
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Simplified Storage Evaluation
QUALITATIVE RATING SYSTEM
NO
Likely to cause significant damage
Does not meet ISO recommendations but may be
satisfactory for extended periods
FAIR
GOOD
Comparable to ISO recommendations
VERYGOOD
Will provide an extended lifetime
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Moving from NO

• Acetate wheel at 21C
• At room conditions CTA base decay fast

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to GOOD Benefits Acetate Base Stability

• Acetate wheel at 2C

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Each Category of Environment Has a Specific Impact
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Startingwith the Environment
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Is Room Suitable?
Must be frozen if there are signs of degradation.
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Is Frozen Suitable?
Must be frozen if there are signs of degradation.
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Starting with the Medium
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Polyester
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Acetate
Must be frozen if there are signs of degradation
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COOL, COLD, or FROZEN May Be the Best Compromise
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A-D Strip ResultsAn Example
AT AUTOCATALYTIC POINT
100
90
80
70
60
Distribution in
50
40
30
20
10
0
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
3
A-D Strips Levels
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What We Do Know

• Storage is the single most important factor to
  optimize life span
• ROOM is never a GOOD option
• Condition is a major factor
• Further research is needed on specific media

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IPI Media Storage Quick Reference

• Part of National Film Preservation Foundation
  project
• Fundedby AndrewW. MellonFoundation

www.climatenotebook.org
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