1. Don’t panic! Dealing with wet records Elizabeth Hadlow Senior Conservator Records Manager’s Forum 24 July 2007

2. Introduction Resources Equipment Training Planning for Salvage Handling wet records

3. Resources - planning State Records Website –Standard on Disaster Management of Records http://www.records.nsw.gov.au/publicsecto r/rk/disaster/diplancom.htm National Archives Website –Disaster Preparedness Manual http://www.naa.gov.au/recordkeeping/pres ervation/disaster/intro.html

4. Resources – planning and salvage AMOL website –Be Prepared- Guidelines for Small Museums for writing a disaster preparedness plan http://sector.amol.org.au/publications_archive/collections_ma nagement/be_prepared AMOL website –reCollections – Managing collections http://archive.amol.org.au/recollections/ NAA website –Archives Advice 28 http://www.naa.gov.au/recordkeeping/rkpubs/advices/advice 28.html

5. Resources – advice State Records NSW –Senior Conservator –Senior Archivist Transfer and Custody –Salvage of archives State Library of NSW –Conservation section –Salvage of books National Archives of Australia –Conservation section –Salvage of archives Large Museums and Art Galleries –Conservation section –Specialist advice on specific materials, e.g. metals, organic objects, textiles

6. When is it a disaster? Size doesn’t matter What is your ability to deal with it?

7. Equipment – disaster bin Contents: Buckets Mops Plastic sheet Blotting paper Dust masks Washing line and pegs etc

8. Equipment – Disaster store Larger stores of materials

10. Resources – Training De Dramatising Disasters –www.records.nsw.gov.au training calendar –20-21 September 2007 –State Library of NSW –2 days 9.30am-4.30pm –$520 –Limited spaces

11. What are we trying to prevent? Mould growth Ink bleeding Coated papers sticking Books swelling Bindings failing Photographs blocking Emulsions detaching

12. What should I do with wet records? How wet are my records? –Sodden –Damp –Mix Air Drying –Laying out flat –Pegging up –Air circulation –Keeping humidity down Freezing –What can I freeze? –When do I freeze?

13. Preparing for salvage Separate different materials where you can Know your collection Know the correct salvage response for different materials

14. Handling wet records

15. Summary Training is very important Pre-planning avoids delays and mistakes Players must understand your requirements Get to know what resources you can call on