Looking after your collections
These information guides offer advice on preserving and storing your precious items.
/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/media-icons/generic/generic.png?itok=AeNrXCH3
General care of your collections - Overview
This brief information guide covers the general care of library and archival document collections including books, diaries, documents, letters, and photographs.
/sites/default/files/Caring%20for%20your%20collections%20-%20Overview_2025.pdf
/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/media-icons/generic/generic.png?itok=AeNrXCH3
Paper-based collections
This guide covers the care of unbound paper-based collections. Material in this category encompasses works of art on paper (e.g. prints, watercolours, charcoal, pastels, pen and ink and pencil drawings) and archival and family history material (e.g. certificates, newspapers, maps, letters, and land deeds).
/sites/default/files/Caring%20for%20your%20collections%20-%20Paper-based%20collections_2025.pdf
/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/media-icons/generic/generic.png?itok=AeNrXCH3
Books and bound material
An information guide on caring for books and bound material.
/sites/default/files/Caring%20for%20your%20collections%20-%20Books%20%26%20bound%20material_2025.pdf
/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/media-icons/generic/generic.png?itok=AeNrXCH3
Parchment documents
A guide outlining advice on storing and caring for parchment documents.
/sites/default/files/Caring%20for%20your%20collections%20-%20Parchment%20documents_2025.pdf
/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/media-icons/generic/generic.png?itok=AeNrXCH3
Photographs
An information guide on caring for photographs.
/sites/default/files/Caring%20for%20your%20collections%20-%20Photographs_2025.pdf
/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/media-icons/generic/generic.png?itok=AeNrXCH3
Digital prints
Discover how to minimise potential risks with regard to digital images/prints.
/sites/default/files/Caring%20for%20your%20collections%20-%20Digital%20prints_2025.pdf
/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/media-icons/generic/generic.png?itok=AeNrXCH3
Magnetic media
Is your wedding on VHS? Your music on audiocassettes? This information guide outlines how to care for magnetic media.
/sites/default/files/Caring%20for%20your%20collections%20-%20Magnetic%20media_2025.pdf
/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/media-icons/generic/generic.png?itok=AeNrXCH3
Motion picture film
An information guide on caring for motion picture films.
/sites/default/files/Caring%20for%20your%20collections%20-%20Motion%20picture%20film_2025.pdf
/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/media-icons/generic/generic.png?itok=AeNrXCH3
Preservation planning for large collections
How to develop a preservation plan to care for a large collection now and into the future.
/sites/default/files/Caring%20for%20your%20collections%20-%20Preservation%20planning%20for%20large%20collections_2025.pdf
/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/media-icons/generic/generic.png?itok=AeNrXCH3
Children's artwork collections
This guide covers the care of children's artworks on paper, collected and retained for long term preservation.
/sites/default/files/Caring%20for%20your%20collections%20-%20Children%27s%20artwork%20collections_2025.pdf
No index
Off
Digital Preservation
Learn how to preserve your digital photographs, emails, recordings, and documents.
/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/media-icons/generic/generic.png?itok=AeNrXCH3
Digitisation
Information guide on digitisation.
/sites/default/files/Caring%20for%20your%20collections%20-%20Digitisation_2025.pdf
/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/media-icons/generic/generic.png?itok=AeNrXCH3
Digital content
Information guide on digital content.
/sites/default/files/Caring%20for%20your%20collections%20-%20Digital%20content_2025.pdf
No index
Off
Disaster recovery
These guides outline steps to salvage water-damaged paper, book, photographic, and audiovisual collections.
/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/media-icons/generic/generic.png?itok=AeNrXCH3
Emergency recovery of water damaged collections
Helpful tips for the initial salvage of collections affected by water. It is important to attend to the damage as quickly as possible to prevent permanent damage and mould growth.
/sites/default/files/Caring%20for%20your%20collections%20-%20Emergency%20recovery%20of%20water%20damaged%20collections_2025.pdf
/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/media-icons/generic/generic.png?itok=AeNrXCH3
Freezing water damaged and insect infested collections
Freezing is an effective method to deal with insect eradication in certain types of material, particularly paper-based collections. It also buys time when treating water damaged and mould affected material.
/sites/default/files/Caring%20for%20your%20collections%20-%20Freezing%20water%20damaged%20and%20insect%20infested%20collections_2025_0.pdf
No index
Off
Preventive Conservation
These guides assist with planning for preservation before disaster strikes.
/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/media-icons/generic/generic.png?itok=AeNrXCH3
Book wrapping
This is simple guide on how to wrap books with archival paper. It offers a secure and affordable option to safely protect, preserve, and transport your book collection.
/sites/default/files/Caring%20for%20your%20collections%20-%20Book%20wrapping_2025.pdf
/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/media-icons/generic/generic.png?itok=AeNrXCH3
Dealing with mould
Moulds can be dangerous to people as well as collections. This guide will help you prevent mould and treat mould affected collections.
/sites/default/files/Caring%20for%20your%20collections%20-%20Dealing%20with%20mould_2025.pdf
/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/media-icons/generic/generic.png?itok=AeNrXCH3
Freezing water damaged and insect infested collections
Freezing is an effective method to deal with insect eradication in certain types of material, particularly paper-based collections. It also buys time when treating water damaged and mould affected material.
/sites/default/files/Caring%20for%20your%20collections%20-%20Freezing%20water%20damaged%20and%20insect%20infested%20collections_2025_0.pdf
/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/media-icons/generic/generic.png?itok=AeNrXCH3
Housekeeping checklist
A housekeeping checklist to help you care for your collections.
/sites/default/files/Caring%20for%20your%20collections%20-%20Housekeeping%20checklist_2025.pdf
/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/media-icons/generic/generic.png?itok=AeNrXCH3
How to make a four-flap enclosure
How to make a four-flap enclosure.
/sites/default/files/Caring%20for%20your%20collections%20-%20How%20to%20make%20a%20four-flap%20enclosure_2025.pdf
/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/media-icons/generic/generic.png?itok=AeNrXCH3
How to make an archival corrugated box
How to make an archival corrugated box.
/sites/default/files/Caring%20for%20your%20collections%20-%20How%20to%20make%20an%20archival%20corrugated%20phase%20box_2025.pdf
/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/media-icons/generic/generic.png?itok=AeNrXCH3
Matting and framing
Framing artworks and heritage collections, if done to conservation standards, will help protect and preserve.
/sites/default/files/Caring%20for%20your%20collections%20-%20Matting%20and%20framing_2025.pdf
/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/media-icons/generic/generic.png?itok=AeNrXCH3
Pest management
A guide providing details on how to protect collections from pest activity.
/sites/default/files/Caring%20for%20your%20collections%20-%20Pest%20management_2025.pdf
/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/media-icons/generic/generic.png?itok=AeNrXCH3
Storage furniture
Choosing the right storage furniture requires careful consideration. Many of the currently available materials produce by-products that can pollute and are harmful to the collections they house.
/sites/default/files/Caring%20for%20your%20collections%20-%20Storage%20furniture_2025.pdf
/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/media-icons/generic/generic.png?itok=AeNrXCH3
Suppliers and guide to selecting preservation materials
Info guide about preservation materials suppliers.
/sites/default/files/Caring%20for%20your%20collections%20-%20Suppliers%20and%20guide%20to%20selecting%20preservation%20materials_2025.pdf
No index
Off
You may also like
These short videos will help you to learn how to preserve your collections for future generations to enjoy.
Find out how to deal with personal collections that have mould problems or have been water-damaged or infested with insects.
Preservation staff take you step by step through some techniques and tools for preserving collections.
No index
Off