Collections Care: Storage

Storage areas for collections should provide a safe resting place for collection items not on exhibit that can be easily accessed by collections staff, but secured from entry by others. Ideally, the space will be climate controlled and only storage materials deemed safe for specific types of collections will be used. General good housekeeping and policies of no food or drink in collection storage areas also contribute to the longterm preservation of artifacts through removing the conditions that might attract unwanted pests. General guidelines as well as guidelines for storing specific types of collections can be found below.

General Guidelines

• American Institute for the Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works: STASH (Storage solutions with many DIY instructions)
• Canadian Conservation Institute: “General Precautions for Storage Areas” (CCI Notes 1/1)
• Connecting to Collections Care
  • “Making the Most of the Storage You Have” Webinar (Presenter: Elsa Huxley, Heritage Preservation)
  • “RE-ORG: Step-by-step Storage Reorganization for Small Museums” Webinar (Presenter: Simon Lambert, Canadian Conservation Institute)
  • “Storage Solutions” Webinar (Presenter: Rachael Perkins Arenstein, A.M. Art Conservation)
• Film Care: “Storage Suitability” (nitrate, acetate, and polyester-based films)
• Museums Australia Victoria: “Online Museum Training – Organising Your Collection Store”
• National Park Service
  • “Buffered And Unbuffered Storage Materials”
  • “Determining Museum Storage Equipment Needs”
  • “Determining Museum Storage Space Requirements”
  • “Safe Plastics And Fabrics For Exhibit And Storage”
  • Museum Handbook: Chapter 7 “Museum Collection Storage”
  • “Museum Storage Cabinets”
  • “Museum Collection Storage Space: Is An Insulated Modular Structure Right For Your Collection?”
• Nebraska Public Media: “Saving Your Treasures” ($)
• Northern States Conservation Center: “Storage Guidelines”

Guidelines for Specific Types of Collections

• Canadian Conservation Institute
  • “Care of Machinery Artifacts Displayed or Stored Outside” (CCI Notes 15/2)
  • “Display and Storage of Museum Objects Containing Cellulose Nitrate” (CCI Notes 15/3)
  • “Flat Storage for Textiles” (CCI Notes 13/2)
  • “Hanging Storage for Costumes” (CCI Notes 13/5)
  • “Outdoor Storage and Display: Basic Principles” (CCI Notes 15/8)
  • “Outdoor Storage and Display: Remedial Measures” (CCI Notes 15/9)
  • “Storage and Display Guidelines for Paintings” (CCI Notes 10/3)
  • “Storage for Costume Accessories” (CCI Notes 13/12)
  • “Storage of Metals” (CCI Notes 9/2)
  • “Rolled Storage for Textiles” (CCI Notes 13/3)
• Minnesota Historical Society
  • “Rolling Textiles on a Tube” (video)
  • “Storage of Flat Textiles in Boxes” (video)
  • “Storage of Quilts and Coverlets” (video)
  • “Storing Costumes in Boxes” (video)
• National Park Service
  • Conserve O Gram Series (numerous articles on storing specific types of collections, such as textiles, metals, baskets, longarms, natural history, paintings, photographs, and digital materials)
• Northeast Document Conservation Center: “Storage Methods and Handling Practices” (books, manuscripts, documents, etc.)