28 Nov
2016
28 Nov
'16
11:54 p.m.
There are two issues, the binding glue drying and
cracking, the other is
high acid paper.
Allison
As mentioned these old handbooks were printed on high acidity paper, not quite
as cheap as newspaper but certainly not considered to last.
I had heard years ago about 'preservation paper' which was alkaline sheets
that are placed in between these sorts of old pages, but a quick search hasn't
turned up anything. The Library of Congress takes a more thorough approach by
dipping the book in a Magnesium Oxide solution
http://www.loc.gov/preservation/scientists/projects/mass_deacid.html
Probably not for the inexperienced archivist as how do you get the pages ironed
properly after it has dried out :). Long-term storage through digital means ie.
bitsavers and wide distribution is it seems going to last the longest (thank you
bitsavers).
Steve