Tip #15: Be careful that attempts at organization don’t hinder preservation.

Tip #15: Be careful that attempts at organization don’t hinder preservation.

This week we’re taking a break from providing nightmare fuel to talk about something that’s easy to overlook: your office supplies.

Here’s a short list of supplies to avoid:
- Staples. Beyond ripping puncture holes into the papers, staples rust.
- Paper clips. While not as bad as causing tears, they can bend and warp the papers. Also the metal ones rust.
- Rubber bands. If you’ve ever seen an old rubber band, you know exactly what I’m talking about. They become crumbly, sticky, and stain your papers.
- Tape. It’s sticky, difficult to remove, and leaves behind a residue. Leave removal to a conservator.
- Pens. Ink is permanent. Use pencils instead.
And the worst of them all.
- Laminators. Lamination can never be undone. The plastic will degrade over time and rather than protecting the paper, will destroy it. Never laminate archival materials.

Want to learn more about preserving paper? Check out our webinar on YouTube!