Question about Buffered or Unbuffered Acid-free Boxes

[David Kay, MLS]

Hi everyone,
 
Here's a difficult question that some of you more experienced photo archivists, chemists, or AV archivists/educator can answer.

When storing magnetic media (videotapes) and photos, do people still recommend that the acid-free boxes should be unbuffered?
If so, can you point me to a resource (print, electronic or human) that can help explain why? 

I have a suspicion that it's true due to the risk of chemical changes, but may need a source.
Please let me know.

Thanks!


dk
###

[Howard Besser]

For videotapes, my initial reaction is: Don't put them in boxes at all! It
keeps air from circulating. (that micro-environment could be a bigger
danger itself)
-howard

[David Kay, MLS]

Ha, good answer, Howard.  I hadn't thought of that.  What would you recommend instead?  Shelving?  Is there a risk of metal shelves demagnetizing tapes?

[Howard Besser]

Open shelves! I've never heard of any demagnetizing because of metal
shelves. BUT don't put them on bottom shelves. (I have heard of
demagnetizing on bottom shelves because of custodians waxing the floors --
strong magnets in floor waxing machines)

On Thu, 30 Mar 2017, David Kay, MLS wrote:
> Ha, good answer, Howard. I hadn't thought of that. What would you
> recommend instead? Shelving? Is there a risk of metal shelves
> demagnetizing tapes?
>
> On Thu, Mar 30, 2017 at 1:16 PM, Howard Besser <how...@nyu.edu> wrote:
>
>> For videotapes, my initial reaction is: Don't put them in boxes at all! It
>> keeps air from circulating. (that micro-environment could be a bigger
>> danger itself)
>> -howard
>>
>>
>>
>> On Thu, 30 Mar 2017, David Kay, MLS wrote:
>>
>>> Hi everyone,
>>>
>>> Here's a difficult question that some of you more experienced photo
>>> archivists, chemists, or AV archivists/educator can answer.
>>>
>>> When storing magnetic media (videotapes) and photos, do people still
>>> recommend that the acid-free boxes should be unbuffered?
>>> If so, can you point me to a resource (print, electronic or human) that
>>> can
>>> help explain why?
>>>
>>> I have a suspicion that it's true due to the risk of chemical changes, but
>>> may need a source.
>>> Please let me know.
>>>
>>> Thanks!
>>>
>>>
>>> dk
>>> ###
>>>
>>
>
>

--
._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._.
Howard Besser, Professor and
Founding Director, Moving Image Archive and Preservation Program
NYU's Tisch School of the Arts
Cinema Studies Department
665 Broadway, room 612
New York, NY 10012
tel: 212-992-9399
how...@nyu.edu
http://besser.tsoa.nyu.edu/howard/
http://www.nyu.edu/tisch/preservation/
TShirt Exhibit Talk: http://youtu.be/WqgtBVGUw2w

[Jenny Swadosh]

What if shelving is not an option? I'd like to know the answer to David's question.

With all good wishes,

Jenny

On Thu, Mar 30, 2017 at 1:16 PM, Howard Besser <how...@nyu.edu> wrote:

--

Jenny Swadosh

jennys...@gmail.com

*Please do not add this e-mail address to any distribution list without my explicit consent. Thank you.*

[Howard Besser]

Poking holes in the boxes is more important than un/buffering.

And, to give an unfortunatly lawyer-ly answer to Jenny's question: "it
depends". The off-gassing from acetate bases (that we have on audio,
video, and film) is very strong. So once that process (hydrolysis) gets
going, the box is not going to absorb or counteract it. So if you've
started to get even the slightest smell of vinegar, the box type won't
matter at all. (At that point your concern is more about keeping the
acidic material away from the material that hasn't yet deteriorated that
far.)

-howard

[David Kay, MLS]

Thanks Howard!  That's really helpful information.

dk

[Jenny Swadosh]

Thanks, Howard. It's good to have the reasons behind the answers, if only to say, "If you don't do this, X might happen."

And, of course, the end goal is to get the content off the tape sooner rather than later.

With all good wishes,

Jenny