The PRONOM project gives specifics re care, handling, and storage environment of CDs and other removable media.  See http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/pronom/about.htm.

 

Briefly, cases should be of inert polyester that does not release chemicals that could damage the media; they prefer rigid cases.  Store vertically. 

Some IT archivists maintain that CDs should be stored in Tyvek envelopes, then inside acid free, archival CD boxes. 

 

Either way, temperature, humidity, quality of CD are equally, if not more important, than the CD container.  See this Kodak link for more information regarding composition of disks:  http://www.kmpmedia.com/news/KMPMEDIA-news2.html.  See Charles M. Dollar, Authentic Electronic Records: Strategies for Long-Term Access for storage environment comparisons.

 

Regards,

Nancy

 

Nancy Adgent

Project Archivist

Rockefeller Archive Center

[log in to unmask]

914-366-6355

15 Dayton Avenue

Sleepy Hollow, NY  10591

 


From: Archives & Archivists [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Mitch Brown
Sent: Tuesday, June 06, 2006 11:46 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: CD Rom Preservation

 

I am currently working on a collection that has CD Roms in it.  They are in various cases (cardboard, plastic).  I have a fairly simple question (I think).  Is it preferable to keep the media inside the case it comes in or should I take them out and put them into CD sleeves?  Will the acids in the cardboard and anything else negatively affect the integrity of the media?
 
Also, are there good white papers on this subject? A posting from the Archives & Archivists LISTSERV List sponsored by the Society of American Archivists, www.archivists.org. For the terms of participation, please refer to http://www.archivists.org/listservs/arch_listserv_terms.asp.

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A posting from the Archives & Archivists LISTSERV List sponsored by the Society of American Archivists, www.archivists.org. For the terms of participation, please refer to http://www.archivists.org/listservs/arch_listserv_terms.asp.

To subscribe or unsubscribe, send e-mail to [log in to unmask] In body of message: SUB ARCHIVES firstname lastname *or*: UNSUB ARCHIVES To post a message, send e-mail to [log in to unmask]

Or to do *anything* (and enjoy doing it!), use the web interface at http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/archives.html

Problems? Send e-mail to Robert F Schmidt <[log in to unmask]>