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

Unbound ephemeral material should be stored by type of material and size. In fact, ephemeral materials are usually the most difficult to preserve, due to acid migration from the more inevitable different types of materials stored in one place. Ephemeral materials should be housed in an enclosed structure that provides sufficient support and protection from the environment, such as a Mylar sleeve, box or folder.

Oversized materials, such as broadsides and maps, should be stored flat, either in map drawers or large archival quality boxes. These should also be placed in acid-free folders that fit the size of the container boxes. Optimally, only one item should be kept in each folder. If that is not possible, acid-free tissue can be placed between each item within the folder.

Box storage is the most optimal type of storage for reading materials. It provides protection from light, temperature and humidity. If used properly, it will support the material to prevent warping and strain. If you cannot afford to purchase boxes, you may construct your own from acid-free, lignin free card stock and cardboard (see Resources below).

There are two basic types of boxes which are used; drop-spine and phase boxes. Drop-spine boxes are the preferred type of box, since they provide the most protection from ultraviolet light, dust, temperature and humidity.

Also known as “Solander” or “clamshell” the drop-spine box, designed in the shape of a book and wide enough to stand upright, may be used for storing books, pamphlets, maps, plates, papers, etc. "Solander" or "clamshell" drop-spine boxes are designed in two parts with a slide-on top, or hinged to open at the front or side, with a clasp or spring catch.

Phase boxes are the second best choice, but do not provide quite as much protection as drop-spine boxes. A phase box consists of four-flaps that wrap around the entire book. A slipcase is a sturdy cardboard box, covered in paper, cloth, or leather, and designed to fit a single book or multi-volume set, with an open front to expose the spines and allow the volume to remain visible¹⁰. Since slipcases have a closed top, they can cause abrasion to the book when it is removed from the slipcase.

¹⁰ Joan M. Reitz. ODLIS: Online Dictionary of Library and Information Science, 2002.