Alabama faces natural threats year-round. From flooding to hurricanes to snow and ice, these events can pose a danger to your record storage room. In addition to natural disasters, records storage rooms are subject to more common hazards such as pipes bursting, sewers backing up, or faulty electrical wiring causing smoke or fire damage.
Category: Local Records Preservation
Preparing for and Cleaning Mold on Paper Records
If you have ever stepped into your records room and caught the unmistakable scent of mildew or opened a drawer to find a fuzzy film growing there, you know the stress this can cause. You might feel that all hope is lost, but thankfully, you can often salvage moldy documents. A quick, informed response will … Continue reading Preparing for and Cleaning Mold on Paper Records
Newspaper Preservation
Guest Contributor: Mary Clare Johnson, Collections Archivist, Alabama Department of Archives and History Many of us collect and keep newspapers and clippings as souvenirs of historical and personal importance; however, these ephemeral objects are not meant to last forever and have an expected lifespan of 50 years or less. They require special care and proper … Continue reading Newspaper Preservation
Records Disposition Authority: Roadmap for Records Retention
Do you ever wonder why some records are kept for just a couple of years, while other records are kept for decades or even forever? Do you know where to find how long different types must be maintained? Let’s discuss a document that serves as a roadmap for state and local government records retention: the … Continue reading Records Disposition Authority: Roadmap for Records Retention
Preserving Historic Ledgers and Books
Guest Contributor: Keri Hallford, Collections Archivist, Alabama Department of Archives and History Are you considering wrapping books in your agency’s collection? Keeping bound records was once an easy and reliable way to reference important information quickly. In the digital age, however, this method is becoming outmoded, and books often fall into disrepair. As bound records … Continue reading Preserving Historic Ledgers and Books
For the Record 