Collections Care: Audio-Visual and Photographic Materials

Audio-visual materials are a part of modern life. Most of us have grown up with films, television, and music. Sometimes we forget, however, that as time marches on these “modern” materials are quickly becoming important parts of history collections as well and may present preservation challenges that are different from other items in our collections. 

As with any museum or personal collection, appropriate handling techniques and storage are the first line of defense in their preservation. General tips include handling materials with very clean and dry hands unless directly handling film or tape, in which case nitrile gloves should be worn; store in a cool, dry place; allow materials to acclimate to their surroundings prior to use; and good housekeeping in storage and exhibition areas. Further tips on caring for audiovisual and photographic materials can be found below. Additional information on plastics and modern materials can be found in “Collections Care: Plastics and Modern Materials.”

General Care/Miscellaneous Types

• Connecting to Collections Care:
  • “Care of Paper, Photographs, and Audiovisual Collections” Webinar (Presenter: Kristen Laise, formerly of Heritage Preservation)
  • “Care of Video Tape” Webinar (Presenter: Sarah Stauderman of the Smithsonian Institution Archives)
  • “Caring for Audiovisual Material” Webinar series (Presenters: Karen Gracy, Sarah
    Stauderman, Linda Tadic, Jeff Martin, and Stephanie Renne)
• Canadian Conservation Institute: “Caring for Audio, Video, and Data Recording Media” (by Joe Iraci)
• Library of Congress:
  • “Care, Handling, and Storage of Audio Visual Materials”
  • “Frequently Asked Questions: Audio/Visual Materials”
• National Park Service: Museum Handbook: Appendix M, “Management of Cellulose Nitrate and Ester Film”
• Sustainable Heritage Network: “Ideal Storage Temperatures for Visual and Audiovisual Media”

Film

• Connecting to Collections Care: “Preserving Film Collections for the Future: A Web Application” Webinar (Presenter: Jean-Louis Bigourdan of the Image Permanence Institute)
• Image Permanence Institute: Instructions for Using the Wheel, Graphs, and Table: Basic Strategy for Film Preservation
• Library of Congress: “Care, Handling, and Storage of Motion Picture Film”
• National Film Preservation Foundation: The Film Preservation Guide

Photographic Materials

See also “Caring for Your Collection: Works on Paper” for other resources.

• American Institute for Conservation of Historic & Artistic Works (AIC): “Caring for Your Treasures – Photographs”
• Connecting to Collections Care: “Caring for Photographs” Webinar Series (Presenter: Debra Hess Norris of the University of Delaware)
• National Park Service:
  • “Cold Storage: A Long-Term Preservation Strategy for Film-Based Photographic Materials”
  • Museum Handbook: Appendix R, “Curatorial Care of Photographic Collections”
• Northeast Document Conservation Center: Care of Photographs (Preservation Leaflets series)