Connecting to Collections Care

Martha,

A few years ago we underwent a similar project and we rehoused all of the flat plaques (no 3D statuettes on them) in polyethylene zipper bags and then placed them into boxes. This allowed us to maximize the number of plaques we could fit in a single box while protecting them from each other.

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Mark Coulbourne
Preservation Librarian
University of Maryland Libraries
College Park MD
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Hello,

We currently do something similar to what Mark mentions. We just add a layer of 1/4" Ethafoam inside each bag, for additional cushioning between plaques. Using the same bag size and cutting the foam to the bag size will allow you to standardize the objects and will be easier to box them together. If plaques are heavy, we add one or two cardboard dividers (fixed to the box) so the pieces don't lean too much.

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Silvia Manrique Tamayo
Collections Manager/Conservator
Wolfsonian-FIU
Miami FL
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Original Message:
Sent: 11-28-2022 09:24
From: Mark Coulbourne
Subject: Storing plaques

Martha,

A few years ago we underwent a similar project and we rehoused all of the flat plaques (no 3D statuettes on them) in polyethylene zipper bags and then placed them into boxes. This allowed us to maximize the number of plaques we could fit in a single box while protecting them from each other.

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Mark Coulbourne
Preservation Librarian
University of Maryland Libraries
College Park MD
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Hi Martha,
As the acting C2C Care community monitor, I'd like to thank you for posting this question to the community!
Acid-free tissue or inert, thin foam sheeting are other options for protecting and supporting vertically stored plaques. Additionally, both materials could be used to fill out negative space and prevent shifting of plaques within the box. Recommendations for products suitable for storage may be found in the CCI's Technical Bulletin 32 - Products Used in Preventive Conservation.  Compiled Oddy Test results may be found at Materials Testing Results - Case Constriction Materials. 
While searching for other recommendations, I came across a 2000 posting to the Archives & Archivists listserv http://www.ibiblio.org/archives-archivists/msg08987.html about storing plaques, which offers similar recommendations.

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Sharon Fickeissen
Connecting to Collections Care Monitor
Senior Library Conservation Technician
Hagley Museum & Library
Wilmington DE
sfickeissen@hagley.org
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Thank you all for the suggestions! I'm glad to know this isn't an isolated issue.

Martha E. Wiley

Collection Manager

Upcountry History Museum – Greenville County

864-467-3100 x107

UPCOUNTRYHISTORY.ORG

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Martha Wiley
Collections Manager
Greenville SC
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Original Message:
Sent: 11-29-2022 10:57
From: Sharon Fickeissen
Subject: Storing plaques

Hi Martha,
As the acting C2C Care community monitor, I'd like to thank you for posting this question to the community!
Acid-free tissue or inert, thin foam sheeting are other options for protecting and supporting vertically stored plaques. Additionally, both materials could be used to fill out negative space and prevent shifting of plaques within the box. Recommendations for products suitable for storage may be found in the CCI's Technical Bulletin 32 - Products Used in Preventive Conservation.  Compiled Oddy Test results may be found at Materials Testing Results - Case Constriction Materials.
While searching for other recommendations, I came across a 2000 posting to the Archives & Archivists listserv http://www.ibiblio.org/archives-archivists/msg08987.html about storing plaques, which offers similar recommendations.

------------------------------
Sharon Fickeissen
Connecting to Collections Care Monitor
Senior Library Conservation Technician
Hagley Museum & Library
Wilmington DE
sfickeissen@hagley.org
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