Upon completion of a processing plan and a meeting with the team leader, the archivist will begin to sort and arrange the collection.
Sorting
If material is foldered, first sort folders into cartons by series. If material is not (or not completely) foldered, you may need to use what Anne calls "the pile method," sorting loose material into series or subseries groupings before foldering. If your collection is large, or if you think you would benefit from more table space, arrange to use the large tables on the 3rd floor of the library.
Fasteners
While rearranging folders to reflect desired order, remove hardware (paper clips, rubber bands, string) and replace with acid-free paper "inserts" (kept in Room 419) to keep materials together. When pages have existing numbers or distinctive paper to differentiate them, paper inserts are not necessary. If staples indicate rust, always remove them. They should also be removed from materials that appear to be under duress.
Flagging
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Refoldering
Be sure to "square" the folders using the appropriate crease (along the bottom edge) for the thickness of the folder.