We generally put restricted items in separate boxes, with the boxes clearly marked as “Restricted.”  For us, however, these are materials which will have long term restrictions, so we don’t need to worry about integrating them into the collection after restrictions are lifted.

 

Do you normally provide collections to researchers at the folder level or box level?  If at the box level, I think leaving the restricted items in the box with the unrestricted items could be a problem.  (The “oops” factor is too high.)

 

If you normally pull folders for individual researchers, you perhaps need something that will catch your eye as you open the box:  an 8.5x11 sheet across the top of the folders that says “Contains restricted materials” or make a sturdy marker out of file folders (something slightly higher than the folders, write “RESTRICTED” at the top and slip it in the front of the appropriate file).  The idea of separate boxes would also work – just use a separation sheet in the spot where the material will eventually be housed, indicate the material is restricted, then as restrictions are lifted, replace the separation sheets with the actual materials.  As long as you leave enough room in the box, this should not disrupt your processing.

 

A label on the box would also do it – eventually you will need to remove it (as restrictions are lifted) and removing it will leave some damage to the exterior of the box.  It won’t make the box any less functional, though, and would decrease the chances of researchers seeing the materials.

 

Hope this helps,