This section offers general tips for handling and moving objects in your collections. Have a more specific question? Be sure to check out our Collections Care page, which offers tips relevant to specific kinds of objects, like textiles or hazardous materials. After you’re comfortable with the methods of handling, create your Object Handling Kit using the instructions at the bottom of the page.

A four flap (or book house) can protect a book in storage. This video from the Sustainable Heritage Network shows to make one.

Environmental control helps you preserve your items. This guide from the Northeast Document Conservation Center outlines basic prevention and environment control for an archive. It covers temperature, relative humidity, light, and air quality. 

If you are creating or adapting a space to house an archive, planning is essential. This resource from Libraries Now! outlines recommended practices and provides resources for planning archival storage.

If you have large items, like maps, in your collection, they’ll need separate storage. This storage guide from GIS Lounge outlines how they can be safety stored.

Collections

To create an object handling kit you should gather the following items: