Archivists, Librarians, and Manga Freaks!
January 7, 2020 4:32 PM Subscribe
How do I caretake my budding collection?
Related to this AskMe...
Apparently, I now own some rare-ish contemporary art. The format is paperback, similar in structure and material to graphic novels.
A) Any general caretaking instructions?
B) Should I store flat or vertical?
C) Do I need a protective sleeve? Do sleeves seal against oxidation? What material? Got a link?
D) For handling, should I get some type of nitrile or cotton or ____ protective gloves?
Anything else? Thanks!
Related to this AskMe...
Apparently, I now own some rare-ish contemporary art. The format is paperback, similar in structure and material to graphic novels.
A) Any general caretaking instructions?
B) Should I store flat or vertical?
C) Do I need a protective sleeve? Do sleeves seal against oxidation? What material? Got a link?
D) For handling, should I get some type of nitrile or cotton or ____ protective gloves?
Anything else? Thanks!
Best answer: I buy comic books but don't take many measures to protect them.
Comic books are usually stored upright in longboxes. I think the upright part is to protect the spines from creases because if you have hundreds of comic books lying flat on top of eachother it'll be really easy for you to crease them accidentally while getting at them or just the weight causing creases. If yours are bound like paperback books as opposed to comics then creasing the spine won't be very likely either way. Also if you are only talking about a couple of issues that's less of a problem too.
I agree that light/UV damage would be a worry if you plan on displaying them. There are comic holders that do provide UV protection but they are sized to comic books so might not be a fit.
Ideally you want to keep them in a dark, cool and dry place protected from dust, insects, and fingers. Even if you'll be storing them in a box I would put them in some kind of sleeve or holder as well.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 9:51 PM on January 7, 2020 [1 favorite]
Comic books are usually stored upright in longboxes. I think the upright part is to protect the spines from creases because if you have hundreds of comic books lying flat on top of eachother it'll be really easy for you to crease them accidentally while getting at them or just the weight causing creases. If yours are bound like paperback books as opposed to comics then creasing the spine won't be very likely either way. Also if you are only talking about a couple of issues that's less of a problem too.
I agree that light/UV damage would be a worry if you plan on displaying them. There are comic holders that do provide UV protection but they are sized to comic books so might not be a fit.
Ideally you want to keep them in a dark, cool and dry place protected from dust, insects, and fingers. Even if you'll be storing them in a box I would put them in some kind of sleeve or holder as well.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 9:51 PM on January 7, 2020 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Take a look at this link for info on buying sleeves: Gaylord Archival Supplies. The short answer on sleeves is that proper ones cost real money, so if you're just looking at storage, probably the easier thing to do is layer acid-free paper between your comics or art, or keep them in acid free folders instead. You can use the sleeves for display. I would definitely layer something between each of your pieces; dyes can bleed and transfer over time.
Best practice is not to use gloves, just clean hands. Gloves reduce your dexterity, and lead to greater risk of tearing pages or damage. The only exception to this is photographs.
posted by backwards compatible at 4:48 AM on January 8, 2020 [4 favorites]
Best practice is not to use gloves, just clean hands. Gloves reduce your dexterity, and lead to greater risk of tearing pages or damage. The only exception to this is photographs.
posted by backwards compatible at 4:48 AM on January 8, 2020 [4 favorites]
Best answer: Archivist/paper preservation person here. The not-too-exciting answer to how best to preserve books/paper is environmental control. Oxidation results from the interaction of light/oxygen and acidic material. As quince points out, you can't control if the paper itself is acidic, and you can't really keep your pieces from contact with air. The part you have control over is light exposure over time and the contact of the paper with acidic housing. Keep your books out of sunlight, avoid extremes in temperature and humidity, and especially avoid rapid changes in temperature and humidity. Paper is very sensitive to those changes and can expand, contract, and warp.
One way to protect books from light, dust, and pests is to house them in an acid free four-flap enclosure. You can also make these yourself at the exact size you need. The drawback of this is that the only way to see the books is to remove them from their housing - good for preservation but not for display. Bound books are generally meant to be stored upright, unless they're large.
Handle the books with clean, dry hands per backwards compatible's comment and be mindful of the spine when you open them. Congratulations on your acquisition!
posted by rabbitbookworm at 9:05 AM on January 8, 2020 [4 favorites]
One way to protect books from light, dust, and pests is to house them in an acid free four-flap enclosure. You can also make these yourself at the exact size you need. The drawback of this is that the only way to see the books is to remove them from their housing - good for preservation but not for display. Bound books are generally meant to be stored upright, unless they're large.
Handle the books with clean, dry hands per backwards compatible's comment and be mindful of the spine when you open them. Congratulations on your acquisition!
posted by rabbitbookworm at 9:05 AM on January 8, 2020 [4 favorites]
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posted by quince at 6:34 PM on January 7, 2020 [2 favorites]