1. Mammoth Materials
How to Preserve Posters,
Maps & Drawings
LYRASIS Preservation Services
Funded in part by a grant from the National
National Endowment for the Humanities,
Humanities, Division of Preservation and
and Access
Unit 3

2. Unit 3
• Storage basics
• Supply terminology
• Flat vs. rolled storage
• General rules for oversized storage

3. Storage Basics
• Identifying our oversized materials helps us to
figure out how to store them.
• These storage basics will apply not only to
oversized materials, but mixed media
collections.

4. Storage Basics
• Controlling temperature & humidity is the single most
cost-effective action we can take to impact every item
in the collection. When dealing with a variety of types
of media, a good range to aim for is:
– 68 – 72 degrees F
– 40 – 50% RH
• Good air circulation is important to help prevent mold.
• Avoid basement or attic storage- temperature and
humidity are too hard to control in these areas.

5. Storage Basics
• Avoid direct sunlight--sunlight contains harmful
ultraviolet rays and also often increases
temperature. Reducing direct exposure is
especially important for any oversized material
that is susceptible to fading.
• Store oversized materials in Flat File Cabinets or
rolled storage. This should be at least 4 inches off
the floor to prevent water damage, mop splashes,
or damage from foot or cart damage.

6. Terminology for Supplies
• Archival quality
• Acid-free
• Lignin and lig-free
• Alkaline buffered
• Photo-safe

7. Terminology for Supplies
• Archival Quality
– This term does not have a meaning in and of
itself. It alone does not represent a
measurable standard. Do not rely on this
phrase alone to indicate a product is
appropriate to use.

8. Terminology for Supplies
• Acid-free
– This indicates that when made, the product
was tested for pH level of acidity – alkalinity
and was found to be neutral or slightly
alkaline.
– Acid-free is paper, folders and boxes are
recommended for the storage of archival and
library materials.

9. Terminology for Supplies
• Lignin and lig-free
– Lignin is a natural component of trees. It
allows for the break down of the wood after
the tree has died. Desirable in nature, not in
products made from wood.
– Look for products that are lignin free. This
may not indicate zero lignin, but indicates very
low levels based on industry standards.

10. Terminology for Supplies
• Alkaline buffered
– May also see the term “buffered,” this
indicates an alkaline reserve in the paper or
box that will slow the acid deterioration
inherent in some paper and printing
processes.
– Buffered paper and boxes are not always the
best choice. They can actually damage some
printing processes. That will be discussed in
upcoming slides.

11. Terminology for Supplies
• Photo-safe
– This is a phrase that does not indicate any
specific standards.
The phrase to look for is that the product has
“Passed the Photographic Activity Test
(PAT).” This means that the product will not
react negatively with photographic processes
or emulsion layers of photographic prints.

12. Size Matters
• In a perfect world, Oversized items should be
stored flat – however, for really large items,
rolling may be your only option.
• A good rule of thumb—if something is larger
than 15 x 9 inches – the size of a standard legal
document box—it should be stored flat.

13. Size Matters
• Archival boxes made out of the same materials as
document boxes (i.e. blue-grey board or sometimes tan
board), are great for items under 30 x 40 inches – they
come in a variety of sizes. Depths are anywhere
between 1 ½ in & 3 inch widths. Store them flat on
shelves, as you see below.

14. Size Matters
• For anything larger than 30 x 40 inches, items should be
stored in flat file cabinets. New flat files should be
powder-coated and heat cured steel. Avoid wood or
damaging metals files. If that’s all you have then line
drawers with an inert barrier such as Polyester sheet.
• Always get the “riser” which will elevate your materials
off the ground – away from water and feet.

15. Flat File Cabinets
DO
• Do use file drawer
composed of baked
enamel with solvent free
powder coating of
polymers
• Do plan for expansion –
leave a spare drawer in
each case and room in
each drawer
• Do remove folders from
drawers one at a time
DO NOT
• Do not fill drawers more than
2 inches high or overcrowd
folders
• Do not fold maps to fit folder
or drawer sizes
• Do not label items or folders
with ink – use only graphite
pencil
• Do not use wooden shelving
without appropriate barriers

16. Rolled Storage
• There is the ideal and the realistic.
Some of us have so many rolled
items that unrolling everything is not
an option. Flat files are expensive
and take up lots of space. Prioritize
by importance, use, etc.
• Also, if your oversized material is
large enough, it may not fit in your
flat file.

17. Proper Rolled Storage
• Roll on OUTSIDE of acid-free tube that is at
least 6 inches in diameter.
• Use tubes that are longer than edges of the
materials being rolled.
• Wrap with acid-free tissue, either buffered or
unbuffered depending on the type of process.
– More discussion of this in a few more slides.
• Tie with plain cotton twill tape to secure.

18. Proper Rolled Storage
• If something is heavily used, wrapping it
with paper may not make a lot of sense,
because you’ll spend a lot of time
wrapping and unwrapping. Instead, it
might be better to encapsulate that item
to protect it from dust, and then acid-free
paper will not be needed.

19. Properly Rolled Storage ?
What’s going on here? Do you see any potential
problems with how these items are rolled?

20. Properly Rolled Storage ?
• Textile looks ok but could use covering. If it is important to see the
textiles, wrap them in clear mylar sheeting instead of paper
• Others look like they are rolled to tightly- would be better on the
outside of the tube.

21. Telescoping Containers
Instead of wrapping the outside, another option is the square long
tubes often described as telescoping containers. They are typically
made of same material as document boxes. Be certain the box is
long enough for the item is contains. There may be wear if you need
to slide the rolled item out frequently.

22. Folders
• Folders should meet Z39.48 (2002)
standard for permanent paper
– Alkaline buffered or unbuffered
– .10 point for small maps
– .20 point or thicker for larger formats or
fragile materials
• Folder dimensions should be slightly
larger than the objects
• Folders should fit into drawers or boxes
without folding or bending

23. Oversize Folders
• Can purchase from reputable vendor
– See Lyrasis vendor pages
http://www.lyrasis.org/Preservation/Search-For-Vendors.aspx
• To make your own:
− 10 or 20 pt board (comes in 30x40 and 60x40 inch sizes)
− Tyvek tape (spun polyester with a pH neutral acrylic
adhesive)
Fold board in half or cut board to correct size and
make hinge with Tyvek tape

24. Buffered or Unbuffered?
Buffered Paper/Board
• Stencil Reproductions
• Gel-Lithographs
• Electrostatic
• Manuscript Maps
• Printed and handcolored
Maps
• Full-Color Printed Posters
• Art on Paper
• Posters
Unbuffered Paper/Board
• Hectographs
• Van Dyke Prints
• Diazo & Sepia Diazo
Prints
• Blueprints
• Positive Blueprints/ Pellet
Prints
• Photostats
• Ferrogallic Prints
• Aniline Prints

25. Buffered or Unbuffered?
When in doubt, choose unbuffered
folder, board, and boxes.

26. General Rules of
Oversized Storage
• Store like items together: Printed maps on paper together,
Blue prints together, Photo processes together, etc. Do not
to mix the various types within the same folder, some print
types are harmful to others. If not possible, isolate
problematic types using polyester sleeves.

27. General Rules of
Oversized Storage
• Polyester can be used with all of these EXCEPT
Electrostatic (xeroxograpy, photocopy) or Pastel
artwork. Plastic can lift off toner or other friable
media (pastel, charcoal).
• Folder by processes, not by size – opposite of the
rules for photographs
• Separate by process type within a folder using
paper dividers (acid-free) alkaline buffered for most
items.

28. General Rules of
Oversized Storage
• Know which processes are sensitive to alkaline
buffered paper and board products If you don’t
want to buy two different types of boxes, folders,
use Polyester sheets (or sleeves) for items that are
sensitive to alkaline environments =e.g. blueprints.
• Unroll items only if the substrate is in good
condition and you have a place to store it.

29. Section 3 Quiz
What did you learn?

30. Section 3 Quiz
Question 1:
• Materials handling best practices suggest
that items of like size should be stored
together.
–True or False?

31. Section 3 Quiz
Question 1:
• Materials handling best practices suggest
that items of like size should be stored
together.
–True or False?
Answer : True
This practice reduces the “wear” of edges
against each other within a folder or
drawer.

32. Section 3 Quiz
Question 2:
• The best way to store an oversized item
on a roll is to roll it around an acid free
core that is at least 6” larger than the item,
cover the rolled object with a paper or inert
plastic sheet and tie it with cotton tape.
–True or False?

33. Section 3 Quiz
Question 2:
• The best way to store an oversized item on a roll
is to roll it around an acid free core that is at
least 6” larger than the item, cover the rolled
object with a paper or inert plastic sheet and tie
it with cotton tape.
– True or False?
Answer : True
This is the suggested best practice.

34. Section 3 Quiz
Question 3:
• It is recommended that a flat storage case
should be put on a riser. Why?
– A. to protect lower drawers from water on the
floor
– B. To protect lower drawers from feet.
– C. For ease of access.
– D. All of the above.

35. Section 3 Quiz
Question 3:
• It is recommended that a flat storage case
should be put on a riser. Why?
– A. to protect lower drawers from water on the
floor
– B. To protect lower drawers from feet.
– C. For ease of access.
– D. All of the above.
Answer : D. All of the above
This is the suggested best practice.

36. Thank You!
To continue Mammoth Materials,
View Unit 4
Contact us if you have any questions.
LYRASIS Preservation Services
preservation@lyrasis.org