Introduction

The building itself may be the most important safeguard for the archives it holds but that alone is insufficient; they require additional care within this envelope. Even if the building itself is not perfect, good storage space, well maintained and managed, will make a big difference to survival. Many archives face the fact that their holdings include different media which, according to many national standards should be stored in differing temperatures and environmental conditions. For many it is impractical or impossible to comply with the requirements; compromises have to be made. In all circumstances, the types of materials stored and any external or internal factors which may affect them need to be considered, the risks need to be assessed and the best solution in the circumstances adopted.

This chapter looks in more detail at:

Why do environmental conditions matter?

Control of the environmental conditions within any archive, library or museum is crucial to the survival of the material stored within it. If the conditions are inimical the material will disintegrate even more quickly than as the result of inevitable natural decay. The purpose of controlling the temperature, relative humidity, ambient light, ultraviolet light and air quality is to ensure that such deterioration is retarded to a point at which the material is as stable as possible. It is a preventative measure which, if successful, will largely avoid the need for active intervention by conservators. Failure to maintain appropriate storage conditions may lead, among other things, to brittle paper, outbreaks of mould, fading of photographic prints or damage by particulate deposits.

There is general agreement that the more stable the conditions, the better the material will survive. Evidence suggests that even where the temperature and relative humidity levels are less than ideal, stability has been a major factor in survival. The appropriate storage levels for mixed media objects present wider challenges.