Housing Design and Specifications
This page is a draft and is currently being edited. More source material may be copied over from this sandbox page. In particular this IMAGE GALLERY may be useful-kkelly, 10/31/2022.
Introduction[edit | edit source]
Although many institutions expend considerable resources on exhibit design and planning, the reality is that the vast majority of collections will spend far more time in storage than on exhibit. Anecdotally, only 2–4% of a museum’s collection is on display at any given time and for natural history collections, that percentage is even smaller. Storage spaces are not places of stasis. Collections in storage are vulnerable to many of the same agents of deterioration as those encountered in exhibits. Thus, improving storage conditions is one of the most efficient methods for addressing overall preservation goals. This page, organized by collection type, provides information on storage mounts, housing design with a focus on choosing appropriate materials.
| What Collections Do You Need to House? | |
|---|---|
 Information on specifications and materials for book storage |
 Information on specifications and materials for |
 Information on specifications and materials for |
 Information on specifications and materials for a range of A/V materials |
 Information on specifications and materials for a range of objects |
 Information on specifications and materials for textiles and garments |
Additional Resources[edit | edit source]
There are a number of core resources in print and online that provide critical information for safe storage of various collection types
- Elkin, Lisa and Christopher A. Norris, eds. 2019. Preventive Conservation: Collection Storage. Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections, The American Institute for Conservation, the Smithsonian Institution, and the Museum Studies Program of George Washington University. This book covers the storage of all types of collections, including science, fine and decorative art, history, library, archive, and digital collections. The volume discusses all aspects of collection storage, from planning and assessment, through building design and facilities management, to storage furniture and specimen housing. It concentrates on preventive conservation and emphasizes a risk management approach.
- Arenstein, Rachael Perkins, Goldberg, Lisa and Eugenie Milroy, Chapter 29: Support & Rehousing for Collection Storage in Preventive Conservation: Collection Storage. This chapter covers challenges and considerations in designing storage mounts and implementing rehousing solutions, including practical considerations relating to mass production, health and safety in material choice and construction techniques.
- The Storage Techniques for Art, Science and History Collections (STASHc) website provides information and tools so that institutions of all types, sizes and resource levels can learn how to create safe and appropriate storage solutions. These solutions were written by and for collection care professionals in all fields. In some cases there are multiple examples to demonstrate that there is no single best solution for storage.
- The Choosing Materials for Storage, Exhibition & Transport page explains why the choice of materials is important and introduces additional factors to consider when choosing materials.
- Book and Paper Group pages on Housings, Encapsulation, and Matting and Framing provide relevant resources on storage for book and paper collections.
- Photographic Materials Group page on Preservation Housing Materials and Formats provides information on the safe housing and storage of photographs prints and negatives.
Getting Involved[edit | edit source]
A range of preservation professionals with conservation, conservation science, preservation and collection management backgrounds are collaborating on editing and updating this page based on the Library of Congress’s original text. This work is being organized by participants in Members of AIC's Materials Standards and Specifications Working Group [link] as it relates to the MWG's mission of facilitating the choice of appropriate materials for exhibition, storage and transport. To contribute information to this area of the wiki or for information on how to get involved with editing please contact AIC's e-Editor
Wiki Contributors: Rachael Perkins Arenstein, Jennifer Evers, Katherine Kelly, Andrew Robb, please add your name here
Housing for Books[edit | edit source]
Book Type[edit | edit source]
| Book Type | |
|---|---|
|
Standard sized book that will be stored vertically on shelf |
| Pamphlets that require additional support. | |
 
|
Oversize book that will be stored horizontally on shelf |
| Add lines for miniature books, wedge shaped books, other variations? | |
Standard Size Boxes[edit | edit source]
Custom Size Boxes[edit | edit source]
See also:
- BPG Wiki page on Housings
- Library of Congress- "Boxes for the protection of books: Their design and construction" compiled by Lage Carlson ... [et al.] ; illustrated by Margaret Brown. This 248 page book includes many housings.
Housings for Paper Collections[edit | edit source]
Content on this page is based on the Library of Congress Preservation Supply Program and is designed assist preservation professionals in selecting commonly used products for housing collections. The Catalog is divided into five sections according to material:
- Paper Stock
- Card Stock
- Board Stock
- Polyester
- Corrugated Board Stock
Each section illustrates a selection of preservation supplies recommended for library collection items. Information is given on possible uses and commonly used or standard sizes of the listed products. Each of the products has a Library of Congress preservation specification which accompanies the item in order to guarantee the durability, construction and appropriate qualities required for long-term storage. The specifications are located on the Preservation Directorate website. Since many items are similar, careful reading of the product description is essential to selecting the right item for your needs.
Paper Object Type[edit | edit source]
What kind of paper object are you looking to rehouse? The choice may be based on size of the item (i.e. letter/legal or bigger)?
| Object Type | |
|---|---|
 |
Letter/Legal size or less, single objects (e.g. manuscripts or other objects) that will be stored vertically within folders in Document Storage Boxes |
 |
Single unbound objects (e.g. music sheets or other objects) that will be grouped in standard-sized formats to be contained in Flat Storage Boxes. |
|
Add lines for oversize maps, rigid paper objects, or things that go in folders in drawers? |
Housing Options: Mats and Interleaving Papers[edit | edit source]
Does the item require a mat or interleaving paper? [Needed: explanation of what these products are and the thought process behind choosing one or the other]
| Housing Options: Mats and Interleaving Papers | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Image | Uses | Color | Weight | Sizes | Published Specification | Vendors |
| Bond Paper Sheets | 
|
|
White | 60 gsm or 20 lb | 8 ½ x 11″ 8 ½ x 14″ 8 ½ x 17″ |
LOC Specification #100-101 – 16 | |
| Uni-mats | 
|
||||||
| Mats | 
|
LOC Specification #400-402 – 16 (Buffered Mat Board); LOC Specification 400-403 – 16 (Unbuffered Mat Board) | |||||
Housing Options: Folders[edit | edit source]
Do you want to put your object in a folder?
| Housing Options: Folders | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Image | Uses | Color | Weight | Sizes | Published Specification | Vendors |
| Bond Paper Folder without Tab | 
|
|
White | 20lbs | 8 ⅞ x 11 ¾″ 8 ⅞ x 14 ¾″ 9 ¼ x 14 ¾″ 11 x 14″ 11 3/16 x 14 ⅝″ 14 x 18″ 16 x 20″ 20 x 24″ 22 x 28″ |
LOC specification #100-112-16 | Gaylord University Products |
| Bond Paper Folder with Tab | 
|
|
White | 20lb | 8 ⅞ x 11 ½″, ¼″ drop 8 ⅞ x 11 ½″, ½″ drop |
LOC specification #100-113-16 | |
| Note: Use a buffered sheet behind object if placing in polyester folder. Paper should extend beyond the object by at least 1/4″.
Exceptions: Double-sided item, deacidified item, or very brittle item of not high value do not need buffered sheet behind them in the polyester folder. | |||||||
| Polyester Folder with one-sided seal | 
|
For housing of individual items
|
Clear | 3 mil for sizes: smaller or equal to 20″ x 24″ 4 mil for sizes: over 20″ x 24″ and up to 22″ x 28″ |
8 ⅝ x 11 ½″, Letter 8 ⅝ x 14 ½″, Legal |
LOC specification # 500-511 – 16 | |
| Polyester Folder with L-seal | 
|
For housing of individual items
|
Clear | 3 mil for sizes: smaller or equal to 20″ x 24″ 4 mil for sizes: over 20″ x 24″ and up to 22″ x 28″ |
8 ⅝ x 11 ½″, Letter 8 ⅝ x 14 ½″, Legal 9 ⅛ x 14 ½″, Legal, tall |
LOC specification # 500-521 – 16 | |
Housing Options: Boxes[edit | edit source]
Decisions about housing may be based on the item's condition, shelving/cabinet size, budget. Can the item be stored in a folder and placed upright? If so, a document storage box may be appropriate. If not, then flat storage boxes may be needed. Using or establishing a standard size is helpful.
[To be added: explanation of why you would use a drop-front box versus not]
| Housing Options: Boxes | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Image | Uses | Color | Weight | Sizes | Published Specification | Vendors |
| Document Storage Box with Pull String | 
|
|
Tan | 60 pt | 12¼ L x 10¼ H x 4¾″ W, Letter 12¼ L x 10¼ H x 2½″ W, Half Letter |
LOC Specification #300-311-16 | |
| Flat Storage Box | 
|
|
Within a range of tan, cream or buff | 60pt | 8 ½ W x 11 L x 4″ D 11 ½ W x 14 ½ L x 1½″ D, AA |
LOC specification #300-323 – 16 | |
| Flat Storage Box – Drop on long side | 
|
|
Within a range of tan, cream or buff | 60pt | 8½ W x 10½ L x 2″ D, AAA 11½W x 14½ L x 2″ D, AA 11½ W x 14½ L x 1½″ D, AA 11½ W x 14½ L x 3″ D, AA 14½ W x 18½ L x 2″ D, A 14½ W x 18½ L x 1½″ D, A 14½ W x 18½ L x 3″ D, A 20½ L x 16½ W x 1½″ D 20½ L x 16½ W x 3″ D 20½ W x 24½ L x 2″ D, B 20½ W x 24½ L x 1½″ D, B 20½ W x 24½ L x 3″ D, B 22½ W x 28½ L x 3″ D, C 22½ W x 28½ L x 1½″ D, C 22½ W x 28½ L x 2″ D, C |
LOC specification #300-321 – 16 | |
| Flat Storage Box – Drop on short side | 
|
|
Tan | 60pt | 11½ W x 14½ L x 1½″ D, AA
11½ W x 14½ L x 3″ D, AA |
LOC specification #300-322 – 16 | The letter code (i.e. A, B, C designate sizes that work with other components e.g. folders in a box) |
Housing for Photographic Materials[edit | edit source]
Use of polyester or polypropylene sleeves inside paper enclosures[edit | edit source]
Do Not Use Plastic Sleeves:
- When film base is acetate or nitrate. All acetate film is unstable and degrades in normal (70 degrees/50% RH) environmental conditions. It should not be stored in plastic enclosures, unless temporarily, when handled by staff or researchers. Always place directly into paper enclosures.
- When a flaking or friable film image needs housing. Place directly into a paper enclosure.
Do Use Plastic Sleeves:
- For protection from abrasion and scratching during handling. Before being handled by staff or researchers, B&W film and all color film need to be protected by plastic sleeves to reduce likelihood of abrasion and scratching.
- For protection from scratching due to abrasion from the surface texture of the paper enclosure. All film surfaces can be scratched. This is a concern for highly valuable, highly vulnerable, highly used film images. The plastic sleeves protect the film surface and prevent moisture build-up on the surface of the film in cold storage during changing climate conditions. The use of plastic sleeves inside paper enclosures is necessary when transporting film images to and from cold storage vaults or in the case of humidity elevation in the vault.
Cool and Cold Storage[edit | edit source]
Cool and cold storage slows the deterioration of unstable photographic materials, especially cellulose nitrate, cellulose acetate and color dyes. Cool storage will slow all forms of photographic deterioration, especially film base deterioration (acetate, nitrate), and color dye deterioration. Cold storage slows deterioration more, especially for color dye images. Cool storage is useful for B&W acetate film in order to slow acetate deterioration. If B&W film is used frequently, the cool storage is preferable since the warm-up time to room temperature is less than for items stored at cold temperatures. All color film, both positive and negative, needs to be stored in cold storage. Color dyes are unstable and will fade unless stored in cold storage. Cold storage will preserve color images indefinitely.
Photo Object Type[edit | edit source]
| Object Type | |
|---|---|
|
Photographic Negative or Transparency (positive image) on film: 4″x5″ |
|
Photographic Strip Negative 35mm and 2 ¼″ |
|
35mm Slide 2″x2″ |
| Add more rows with microfilm, microfiche, photographic prints? | |
Preservation Microfilm and Microfiche[edit | edit source]
Preservation microfilm is a microphotographic reproduction of an information resource originally available in paper or other format. This reproduction consists of microimages that are created in a silver-gelatin emulsion applied to a polyester film base. A preservation microfilm should be a camera original film (i.e., "first generation") with the microimages appearing in negative polarity.
The film product, consisting of the base and emulsion, is expected to exist in perpetuity through its manufacture, use, processing, housing, and storage in accordance with established standards and recommended practices without degradation. Applying the term "preservation" to a microform in general carries the expectation that the information sources available for reformatting are as complete as possible and presented in a coherent arrangement; that the physical materials of the film product are of a recognized and established stability; and that efforts need not be undertaken to recreate a microform of the same information source. A preservation microfilm should include explanatory information so that, when a copy is made from the original film, there is easier access and identification of information appearing in the microphotographic reproduction.
Microfilm, Negative, 35 mm, roll
- On acetate base up to approximately 1980, on polyester base after 1980
- First Generation = Preservation Master Negative -stored on a core (This film is exposed in the camera and then developed in a processor as a roll of film with a negative image. This is the most significant film for preservation purposes.)
- Second Generation = Direct Duplicate or Printing Master or Duplicate Negative -stored on a reel (This film is copied from the Preservation Master Negative and is still a roll of film with a negative image.)
Microfilm, Positive, 35 mm, roll:
- On acetate base up to approximately 1980, on polyester base after 1980
- Third Generation =Service Copy or Use Copy or Distribution Copy -stored on a reel (This film is copied from the Direct Duplicate, processed and has a positive image on a roll of film. It is for use in the Reading Rooms, as Loan Copies or as Sale Copies.)
- Microfilm rolls are stored in single reel storage boxes found on pages 21 and 22. All rolls should have wrappers placed around them for identity purposes.
Microfiche
- On acetate base up to approximately 1980, on polyester base after 1980
The Microfiche Service Copy is a third generation positive film cut into single sheets with multiple images (one or many) in a proscribed sequence comprised of a standard number of images. The number of images generally depends on the reduction ratio, but outside dimensions of the microfiche sheet are one standard size that will fit into most microfiche readers in reading rooms.
Housing Options: Photographic Materials[edit | edit source]
Insert similar tables as above in the paper section, but for photo housing supplies?
Housings for Audio Visual Material[edit | edit source]
Housings for 3D Collections[edit | edit source]
Housings for Textiles[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- Andrew Robb and Ashley Greek. Illustrated by Margaret Brown. 2019. Library of Congress Preservation Supply Catalog: Rehousing Supplies for the Library of Congress Collections.
