Photographic negatives, motion picture film, microfilm, and sound recordings produced from the 1930s into the 1950s often used cellulose acetate as the transparent plastic carrier. As anyone who has ever come in contact with it well knows, its strong vinegar-like scent is hard to miss. Unfortunately, over time, the material is prone to deterioration, which eventually renders it unusable. In an effort to help guide libraries in Australia with this problem, the National Library of Australia has created two documents. This resource draws upon recent "literature discussing preservation and storage of cellulose acetate based film" to guide librarians and collection managers in choosing storage options (lower temperatures and humidity slow the deterioration process). The report discusses the options and provides guidance for planning and evaluation of each, and an appendix directs one to specific Australian storage facilities. Together, both reports serve as a brief, easily readable introduction to this challenging preservation issue.
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