TIP #3: Research the materials you’re handling before defaulting to wearing gloves.

Gloves may seem like the perfect solution to avoid leaving fingerprints and smudges all over your collection (as seen in the second image above), but the question of whether or not to wear gloves is more complicated than you might think.

When deciding whether or not to wear gloves you should consider several questions. What materials are you handling? Gloves are often recommended for handling photographs, but finger oils can actually be beneficial for handling leather. Will wearing gloves limit your dexterity? Paper items are more likely to tear if you’re wearing gloves. Are the materials you’re handling made of hazardous materials? Human safety should always be prioritized. Materials such as arsenic and mold require wearing protection. When you do wear gloves, what kind should you be using? Do memory workers actually wear those white cotton gloves that you see in movies? And what’s the difference between vinyl, latex, and nitrile gloves?

TLDR: Do you research! and regardless of whether you’re wearing gloves, always wash your hands before and after handling objects.

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