Storage - General Guidelines

 

Western Australian Museum History Department objects. Photo by Jessica Needle.
Western Australian Museum History Department objects. Photo by Jessica Needle.
Image copyright WA Museum 

What principles should be followed to allow for the best storage conditions for collections?

Central to all collection care is the provision of adequate, clean storage to house objects that are not on display. It is sometimes necessary to plan a storage area from absolute beginnings if the museum has had all objects on display rather than stored. Whatever the situation there are a number of key factors to be considered.  Most of these are “housekeeping” but include excluding light and harmful substances.

There are a few points that must be considered for all storage areas whether or not they have already been in use. These are:

  • Light control
  • Shelving to keep objects off the floor
  • Inspect and clean regularly 
  • There should be no water or drain pipes in storage area
  • Reasonable ventilation to reduce risk of insect and mould infestation
  • Do not take food into the area

It is advisable to keep the following in mind when organising storage:

  1. Provide lined or black curtains, or dark blinds, for ALL windows in the museum and in the storage area. Make sure the blinds or curtains are closed at all times in both the storage and display areas when the museum is closed. Prolonged exposure to light can damage all objects. Particular care is needed for paper, costume (textiles), objects made from      bone/ivory, wood and leather.
  2. Check to see if existing shelving is adequate for the kinds of objects the museum will be storing. It is important to keep in mind future storage considerations when planning storage areas. 
  3. It is preferable to use painted (powder-coated) metal shelving rather than timber. Of course, cost and convenience means this is sometimes not possible.  If using timber shelving and bench tops, they need to be sealed with at least two coats of plastic/acrylic paint or a clear water based varnish and left for at least two weeks to “cure”, or until the varnish smell has gone. Unsealed timber can stain objects, and the glues used in composite timbers such as chipboard can stain and give off damaging fumes.
  4. A filing cabinet is a good idea for storing objects such as documents, letters, certificates, charts and photos/negatives. They should be placed in paper or mylar envelopes, with the object number and description written in pencil on the outside of the envelope, and then stored in hanging files in museum number order. Filing cabinets are also handy for storing museum management records!  Remember to label the drawers. Never mix museum management papers with objects.
  5. Plan cabinets can be used to store posters and maps and large photos, all of which should be stored flat, with acid free tissue or board between each item.
  6. Books should be stored flat, either wrapped in acid-free tissue paper or buffer paper, or in their own storage boxes. Storing them upright will damage the spine and binding.
  7. Costumes and textiles can be stored in boxes. These should be acid-free, or if this is impossible, should at least be lined with white acid-free tissue paper. Don’t use blue tissue as the blue dye can stain objects. Several objects can be stored in one box between sheets of acid-free tissue. Make sure that there is enough flat storage space for costumes and textile boxes: shelving of a particular width may have to be built to house them.
  8. Large flat textile objects including flags, table linen, and some clothing can be rolled round cardboard rolls or polythene piping covered in washed cotton or calico between layers of acid-free tissue (these rolls can usually be obtained from fabric shops or hardware stores). Small rolls can be stored in a box; larger rolls can be wrapped in washed calico and stored on shelves or suspended by ropes through the centre of the tube and attached to walls, ceilings or shelving.
  9. Costume can be hung using a mobile clothing rack and padded hangers ensuring the costume is properly supported. These padded coat hangers are made from wood or plastic hangers covered with dacron, washed calico or cotton lint. Cover the rack with a large drop sheet of washed calico or a clean, old, cotton sheet.
  10. Hats can be stored with a support in the crown made out of a ball of polyester wadding covered with washed calico or cotton knit fabric.
  11. Keep the storeroom clean and tidy, dry, and free of insects. Do not have food or   drink in the storeroom, and do not smoke while handling objects. Food attracts insects that can damage paper and textiles; drinks can spill and stain; cigarette smoke can stain and there is always the risk of fire.
  12. Avoid taking objects home to fill in object data sheets. Plan to have an adequate, efficient store and workroom instead, and do object recording at the museum. If objects are taken home, there is always the risk of damage or loss.
  13. If the storeroom is to be used as a work area, make sure there is room for a desk and chair, and that there is a lamp and adequate stationary supplies provided.
  14. Label all storage systems on the outside, so items can be easily located and handled less.
  15. Provide easy access to avoid harm to staff and damage to the collection.
Further references and reading:

Australian Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Material, ReCollections 

Museums and Galleries NSW, Online Resources; in particular, Storage and display: Suitable and unsuitable materials and Collection storage: shelving 

Museums Australia Inc (NSW), Museum Methods, A Practical Manual for Managing Small Museums, Sections 4.3 Recommended environmental conditions for museum objects and 4.6 Choosing the best display and storage materials