Each day this week to celebrate Preservation Week 2011, we'll be posting a handy tip to preserving your own collections. Stay tuned, and check back tomorrow!
Photographic Preservation Tips: Caption and Storage Information
Whether digital or paper-based photographs, recording information about the photograph’s content and context is valuable for their future use.
When noting information on photographs or paper items, mark them with a soft lead pencil on the reverse of the item. Date, location and identification are useful things to record for later reference.
When storing photographs in paper envelopes or boxes, choose those that have passed the Photographic Activity Test (PAT). Consider the particular photographic process when determining which paper to use. Reputable dealers in preservation supplies often provide help in matching the photographic process to the appropriate storage paper. For more information see:
http://www.loc.gov/preserv/care/photo.html
For digital photographs, capture that metadata! Did you know that most digital cameras record the date and time of every picture you take? Even better, many cameras are now location-aware and can record where the picture was taken as well. This kind of information is invaluable for long-term preservation…without knowledge of a photo’s context, it is much more likely to be discarded or lost in a large set of digital files. So check your camera settings and make sure the date, time, and location are correct.
These simple steps will support both the longevity and usefulness of your photographs. Your grandchildren will thank you!
Don't forget to stop by our event today from 11am til 1pm in DCAL, at Baker-Berry library!
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