Care, Preservation, and Display of Rare Books and Printed Materials

A pamphlet³ is a nonserial publication consisting of at least 5 but no more than 48 pages, stapled, or sewn but not bound, usually enclosed in a paper cover. Pamphlets were at first published in England to disseminate the polemical writings of 16^th century reformers, but are now used mainly for material too ephemeral or brief (500 to 10,000) words to be printed in book form. Ephemera⁴ are materials of everyday life, often considered to have little or no permanent value (usually in part because they are produced in large quantities), such as pamphlets, leaflets, fliers, postcards, menus, comic books. They may be retained and exhibited for their graphic qualities or for their association with a specific person, event or activity. ⁵.

Because books and printed materials are predominantly composed of organic materials such as cloth, paper and leather and glue, they are subject to environmental variables. Stable environmental conditions are necessary to avoid deterioration of these organic materials. Acids in paper are responsible for much of the deterioration to books and artifacts on paper. This deterioration is most noticeable as discoloration and embrittlement. Since acids can migrate from storage enclosures into items in direct contact with them, it is essential that storage enclosures be made of acid- free materials. In addition, storage materials should be chemically stable so that they do not form acids over time that can be transferred to the items they contain. Lignin, ground wood, and alum-rosin sizing are common components of paper that lead to the formation of acid⁶.

The major environmental causes of deterioration are light, humidity, and temperature. Another factor is dust, but that issue is discussed later in this article. Natural, incandescent and fluorescent light contain ultraviolet radiation, which causes fading and deterioration of printed materials. It is best to keep materials away from all light, if possible. Optimally, materials should be housed in boxes. If that is not possible, avoid direct exposure to any sources of light. Temperature and humidity can also cause rapid deterioration. Dampness encourages the growth of mold; hot and dry conditions cause books to become brittle. Fluctuations in temperature and humidity cause destabilization of organic matter. As a general rule, temperature should be at 70 degrees Fahrenheit and relative humidity should be at 50%. Books and printed materials should be kept away from heating and cooling sources, such as radiation vents, pipes and air conditioning outlets. Vellum books are more susceptible to humidity, and should be stored in boxes.

³ American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language Third edition, 1996: 241.
⁴ Joan M. Reitz. ODLIS: Online Dictionary of Library and Information Science, 2002.
⁵ Ibid.
⁶ “Choosing Archival-Quality Storage Enclosures for Books and Paper,” in Preservation of Library and Archival Materials: A Manual, 2nd ed. Sherelyn Ogden, ed. (Washington, DC: American Association of Museums; 1994), 136.