Storing and Caring for Vinyl Records
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Record collections are passed down through generations, built with a collector’s consideration, enjoyed in quiet contemplation and at raucous social events. Vinyl is a warm, textural listening experience, and steps must be taken to preserve it. Following a few basic principles will help to conserve your collection for present and future enjoyment.
Inventory. Depending on its size and/or value, you should prepare an inventory of your collection. Record the title, artist, date of release or date purchased (if known) and any other noteworthy information of each recording. Organize them in a way that makes sense for you – but keep it consistent.
Care. Keep your records clean. Dust and body oils can and cause poor sound quality and static. They damage the vinyl as well as the needles. Use cloths and brushes specially made for cleaning records; special chemicals are also available. The best, and easiest, way to clean a record is while it rotates on the turntable. Do
..
Storing and Caring for Books
Monday, March 14, 2011
University texts, family heirlooms, classic novels and children’s stories – we collect a lot of books over the years. Regardless of how we come by our libraries, we find at some point that we have to store them away. Proper care and storage are essential to extending the life of your volumes. Here are some guidelines for doing it right.
Cleaning. If the book is extremely dirty, lightly vacuum with a brush attachment. For light to moderate amounts of dust and dirt, use a magnetic dry cloth. Hold the book firmly closed so dust doesn’t get between the pages and wipe the book from the spine outwards. Make sure there is nothing stashed between the pages of the book. Paper items and pressed flowers are acidic and damaging to the pages. Fasteners like paperclips can stain and tear.
Packing. Take an inventory of your books, noting the title, author, publisher, year, ISBN (if present) and any other information you find pertinent. An inventory will help you locate ind
..