Throughout processing, be aware of potential preservation issues. These include:
Mold: If you suspect mold in your collection, consult the Conservator. Mold needs to be HEPA vacuumed. Masks, nitrile gloves, and tyvek aprons are available (a supply is located in the supply closet on the 4th floor) and, wearing them is highly recommended when vacuuming mold. Substantial occurrences of mold may require use of the vacuum located at Weissman Preservation Center or Widener Library.
Items that have been treated for mold should be marked with a special purple card on the outside of their box. Obtain a purple slip from the Conservator to denote that the materials have been examined and/or treated for mold. Write only the date of examination or treatment on the slip, initial, and place slip in additional clear pocket (next to the shelving location card). If appropriate, the processor can also write the folder number on the purple slip. For individual boxed items, CMI for example, add a purple sticker with the information. Stickers available from Conservator.
Odor: If the documents show no indication of mold but retain a very musty odor, the Conservator has a chamber that alleviate the smell of musty material (books or manuscripts). Consult her if you need to use it.
Dirt: If the item is extremely dirty, the dirt can be "erased" with an eraser sponge from the preservation kit located in the mailboxes outside of Room 420 on the 4th floor and in Putnam. If you have a lot of material that needs erasing, consult the Conservator, and determine with your team lead whether a student can do the work.
583 note: If you give the Conservator something from your collection to treat or rehouse, she will usually make a record of this in a 583 note in the Holdings record. Once your collection has been end-processed, make sure you add the correct box and folder numbers to the 583 so the treatment will be specifically recorded.
See also the page on Flagging, which addresses procedures for handling fragile paper. If your collection has a large amount of fragile paper, check in with the Conservator to assess what the preservation needs are for that type of paper. Past practice has suggested all acidic paper be photocopied; as of 2016 the Conservator suggests we may be able to photocopy less based on our climate control.
Sticky notes can be removed from paper documents and recycled, if they have no intrinsic value. If a sticky note provides contextual information or in any other way is worth keeping with the document, please leave the sticky in place and enclose it and the paper it is stuck to in an acid-free sling.
Greeting cards with "stuff" (glitter, felt, non-paper accents) should remain closed, be placed in a sling and can remain in the folder.
Specific formats often have their own preservation issues.