| When we talk about archive storage, most | | | | helps when placing them on shelves in an |
| people will understand this as a way of | | | | orderly way, and when stacking one box on top |
| keeping items that aren't currently being | | | | of another. These boxes are specially made |
| used, but need to be kept for the future. | | | | items. They are made from a type of cardboard |
| This can apply to the home, schools, offices, | | | | that is tough, waterproof and non-absorbent. |
| libraries, museums, art galleries or | | | | They have lids, and they have a place on the |
| industrial premises. The items could be | | | | front where you can insert a label describing |
| documents, photographs, books, paintings, | | | | their contents. Labels have an obvious |
| statues or other objects. They could be items | | | | importance. You need to know what's in the |
| collected by the police at a crime scene and | | | | box, and other people may need to know too, |
| needed as possible evidence in court. Items | | | | so the label should be clearly presented. |
| selected for archive storage are not meant to | | | | |
| be on view or close to hand, but have a | | | | Associated with the physical archive storage |
| future use and need to be put away somewhere | | | | there may be an information system for the |
| safe. Accessibility is important. You need to | | | | items being stored. This could take the form |
| be able to get hold of a particular item | | | | of a list mounted on the end of a shelving |
| efficiently. Sometimes someone else will get | | | | unit with the contents of that unit. Or it |
| it for you and you have to put in a request | | | | could be held on a computer for people to |
| for what you need, and some time later the | | | | search. Whatever you do and however you do |
| item will be delivered to you from the | | | | it, it is important to have an information |
| archive storage system by a colleague. Other | | | | system that is effective. When people add |
| times you yourself will go and get the item. | | | | items to the archive storage system they need |
| | | | to follow the system to enable the items to |
| The environmental conditions are important | | | | be found again. As previously mentioned, in |
| and must be right for the items being stored. | | | | some situations there will be custodians of |
| Correct light levels, temperature and | | | | the archive storage system. These people will |
| humidity are sometimes crucial for old | | | | act as librarians, placing new items in the |
| documents, paintings and scientific samples. | | | | store in an organised way, retrieving items |
| | | | for people, and keeping proper records. After |
| There are a number of physical objects that | | | | all, if you go to the trouble of creating an |
| are almost always involved in archive | | | | archive storage system, it is important that |
| storage. A shelving system of some kind is | | | | items are looked after properly and not |
| invariably used. Shelves make it easy to | | | | removed without appropriate clearance. In |
| store many items efficiently. Boxes are often | | | | some situations, people may want to remove |
| used as an efficient way of keeping bundles | | | | items or files for personal gain. So some |
| of documents clean, dry, and away from | | | | kind of security system needs to be |
| damaging sunlight. The same applies to other | | | | considered when setting up an archive storage |
| items which can be stored in boxes. archive | | | | system. |
| storage boxes come in standard sizes, which | | | | |