Backlog

Negative Enclosures

a four-paneled enclosure made of acid-free paper-based materials, typically used to store film and negatives

Properly used, negative enclosures reduce handling damage by dispersing pressure and preventing abrasion. Furthermore, like most enclosures, they act as a first layer of protection from environmental damage like humidity. This is essential for the long-term preservation of the negatives.

Want to learn more about the tools of the archival trade? Check out our webinar on YouTube!

https://youtu.be/T6lSNqpmcL0?si=sxjFQv2MuwX4UAm6

CD Box

a reinforced enclosure, typically made of acid-free paper-based materials, and specifically designed to house CDs

Like any good archival quality box, a CD box has both reinforced corners to prevent physical damage and is made of acid-free materials to prevent acidification. What makes them different from other storage cartons is their dimensions. A CD box is just wide enough to accommodate a single jewel case (although we recommend using tyvek sleeves), and deep enough to house dozens. Add a few labels and these boxes make for quick searches.

Want to learn more about the tools of the archival trade? Check out our webinar on YouTube!

https://youtu.be/T6lSNqpmcL0?si=sxjFQv2MuwX4UAm6

Buffered Tissue

thin acid-free paper used to buffer acidic materials, also known as interleaving paper

Here at Backlog, we’ve talked a lot about acidic materials. (Yeah, we’re looking at you 20th century paper products.) So by now you probably know the best way to prevent degradation is to neutralize the acidic materials’ pH. This, of course, is where buffered tissue comes in. When you interleave, wrap, or pad materials in buffered tissue, it helps prevent acid from migrating to other archival materials.

If you haven’t seen our webinar on paper preservation, here’s some common culprits of acidification:
- Newspapers
- Scrapbooks
- 20th century books
- Iron gall ink

Want to learn more about the tools of the archival trade? Check out our webinar on YouTube!

https://youtu.be/T6lSNqpmcL0?si=sxjFQv2MuwX4UAm6

CD Sleeves

a small enclosure made of Tyvek and used for storing optical media

Anyone who has had a CD collection or dealt with an AV collection knows how brittle and breakable plastic jewel cases are. Tyvek is an inert material that will prevent scratching, won't rip, and is much thinner to allow for storing CDs at higher capacities.

Bonus tip: If the disc came with paper inserts, store the insert separately from the disc.

Want to learn more about the tools of the archival trade? Check out our webinar on YouTube!

https://youtu.be/T6lSNqpmcL0?si=sxjFQv2MuwX4UAm6