TIP #4: Remember high school chemistry: buffer your acids.

Moths are to fabric as acid is to paper; they both eat away at the materials you’re trying to preserve! Unless you’re working with archival quality materials, the paper (and often ink!) you’re working with is likely acidic. The acidification of paper leads to changes in its appearance, such as that yellowness you see in old newspapers along with brittleness. In extreme cases, the acid can even create holes in the paper (as seen in the second image below).

The best way to prevent this kind of damage is to provide a buffer. A buffer is a type of material that resists pH change, in our case, acidification. In addition to using buffered file folders, consider placing buffered paper between individual items inside the folder. And while the materials that touch the documents directly are of the highest priority, placing your buffered folders inside a buffered box can provide additional protection.

Want to learn more about preventing damage to your collection? Check out our webinars on YouTube!