Part 1: Criteria for Selecting Items for Conservation Treatment before Digital Scanning
Part 2: Safe Handling of Library Materials – Review of Practices

1. Basics
2. Books
3. Paper
4. Photographs

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1. Foldouts that require flattening or mending.

2. Pages with large tears across image area.

3. Folios in pamphlets that are bound by over-sewing or by stapling.

4. Pages dog-eared or creased in a way that obscures text/image.

5. Pages stuck together.

6. Uncut pages.

7. Books with text blocks that will not open even to 90 degrees.

Paper

1. Tears over 1 cm. long that bisect the edge of the paper.

2. Holes larger than 1.5 cm. in diameter.

3. Creases and folds that obscure text/image.

4. Folded brittle paper that requires unfolding.

1. Flaking or cracking of image.

2. Tears or breaks in image area.

3. Losses in image area.

4. Adhesive tapes on the image.

5. Photograph lifting away from the mount/backing.

1. Basics -- The highest priority for the preservation of the materials is a safe, clean working environment:
1. No food or drink in the work spaces.
2. Wash hands after and before eating - this is also for your own health and safety.
3. Do not use pens, markers or sharp objects near the books.
4. Prepare work spaces and surfaces before beginning.
5. Have sufficient space cleared to safely handle all steps in the procedures. Normally this should be six times the dimension of the materials being worked with.
6. Keep surfaces clean and uncluttered.
7. Do not place objects on top of the library materials. If necessary to stack, limit the stack sizes. Do not place items on the floor, near windows or on radiators.
8. When you leave the area close books and cover documents.
9. Be observant and use common sense.
10. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
2. Books -- Safe handling of books includes:
1. Support the sides of books that appear to have weak bindings and/or are designated for an opening of less than 180 degrees.
2. Never force a spine open or apply hard or abrupt pressure to pages to open them.
3. Do not wet your fingers to turn the pages.
4. Turn pages by lifting the upper right corner and then supporting the page with your whole hand to turn it.

3. Paper -- Safe handling of documents and flat materials includes:

1. Support single sheet items with a more rigid support - folder, polyester film, or board. Keep one hand under the object and, if the object is too large, get someone to provide assistance.
2. If the item appears fragile or brittle use a polyester film folder for scanning. When handling remember that polyester film has static charge. Open the folder completely to insert the sheet.
3. Oversized items may be supported by a rigid board. When turning an item over, it should be sandwiched between two boards so that both sides of the item are supported.
4. To pick up a single sheet use a corner of paper inserted under the edge.
5. If you need to turn the item over, move slowly and do not flex the item by having sufficient space for the operation.
6. A folded item may be unfolded carefully after determining that it is not brittle by looking at the folded edge and paper edges for small tears and breaks that indicate brittleness.
7. Use both hands to support a stack of folders.
8. Keep materials in order to minimize handling.

4. Photographs

1. Do not touch the surfaces of photographic emulsions.
2. Do not try to flatten curved or curled photographs that are mounted on board.

Review Sheet to Select a Scanner for Books