Preserving Your Own Collections

What do I do if my books and papers are in a flood?

1. Call us immediately for help and advice about drying materials and protecting them from mold.
   
   
2. Check out Heritage Preservation's page, Save Your Treasures the Right Way, and The American Institute for Conservation's page, Tips for the Care of Water-Damaged Family Heirlooms and Other Valuables.
   

What if my books and papers are moldy?

Mold not only can cause irreversible damage to your personal collections, but can pose serious health risks. If you discover mold in your belongings, take action as soon as possible. See the following sources for directions on dealing with mold.

• Conservation of Art and Historic Artifacts' Managing a Mold Invasion: Guidelines for Disaster Response [PDF]


• The Northeast Document Conservation Center's online publication, Emergency Salvage of Moldy Books and Papers
  


• SOLINET Preservation Leaflets Invasion of the Giant Mold Spore
  


• See Conservation OnLine for additional information on mold
  

What if Other Media is Flooded?

See the detailed disaster recovery procedures for photographs, magnetic tapes, floppy discs, compact disks, and phonograph recordings.