Following on from our previous blog posts about the preservation lab here at QSA, and the different types of damage we see, we wanted to tell you a little story about a special register we have in our collection… so special it has a name. Why you ask? Well, continue on, dear reader, for here... Continue Reading →
Rusted through – iron gall ink and metal fasteners
It’s our 3rd week of our virtual tour of the Preservation lab here at QSA. We’ve covered the effect of dry conditions on paper, we’ve looked at mouldy records, and we’ve come unstuck from our sticky tape situation. Today we’re looking a couple of types of rust… If you’ve missed previous installments of the tour,... Continue Reading →
Sticky situations… the problem with sticky tape
Welcome back to our virtual tour of the Preservation lab here at QSA. This week, we’re getting ourselves into a sticky situation and examining the problem with sticky tape, lamination and other things… well… sticky. If you’ve missed previous installments, catch-up on what we covered so far. Sticky tape Have you ever had a document... Continue Reading →
Come with me on a journey… to the Preservation room
Whenever anyone comes on a tour of QSA, they usually say that the Preservation Lab was their favourite part… and I can totally understand why. So, what happens in the Preservation Lab and why it is so awesome? Well, did you know that the condition of the records we get here at QSA can tell... Continue Reading →
A stinker of a problem – Film and vinegar syndrome
Do you hold photographic records dating from around 1910 - 1990’s? If you do, then there’s a good chance that your negatives, slides or transparency film is suffering from a condition commonly called ‘Vinegar Syndrome’. And if it is, then you will probably smell it before you see it! So, what is Vinegar Syndrome? It’s... Continue Reading →
Digitising audio-visual records – magnetic media
One of the greatest challenges for archives is caring for records that are in one of many audio-visual formats. Here at QSA we have video and audio records dating from around the 60s through to the late 90s on magnetic tape. So, things like promotional and educational videos, interviews and recordings and even soundtracks as... Continue Reading →