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Packing Do's and Don'ts

DO!

PACK BOOKS TO MINIMIZE STICKING, DISTORTION AND SWELLING
When possible, maintain order and proper sequence. Give priority to 19th and early 20th century leather bindings, and to coated paper. Place waxed/freezer paper or deli wrap between books to prevent sticking. To help keep the textblocks from separating from or distorting the covers, place books one at a time, in either of two ways: flat reversing spines, as shown in Figure A, or spine down in a single layer, as shown in Figure B. Support each book firmly on either side to prevent further swelling. To minimize warping, pack books next to others of similar size. Pack boxes tightly enough to reduce shifting, but do not crush. Books will emerge from freezing in pretty much the same condition as they went in.

Figure A
    
Figure B


DO PACK MATERIALS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT AND MINIMIZE SHIFTING
Records that are stored in boxes may be frozen, box and all, if box is still strong. It is also possible, in the interest of saving handling and reducing identification problems, to freeze entire file drawers removed from cabinets (however this can pose a problem of weight). If folders are to be packed in boxes, fat the box or lay the box on its side so that the folders don't need to be supported as they are loaded, as shown in Figure C. Interleave folders every two inches with waxed/freezer paper or deli wrap. Loose documents, or those that have become separated from their folders may be piled flat in boxes. Fill the space between piles of documents and the sides of the box loosely with crumpled paper towels or other absorbent non-printed paper to prevent the contents shifting when boxes are moved, as shown in Figure D.

Figure C
    
Figure D


DO PREPARE TO TRANSPORT BOXES
Keep coated paper wet, by lining boxes with garbage bags, then freeze as soon as possible. Label boxes. Keep an inventory by box and location of boxed and frozen materials. If boxes are piled on top of one another, stack neatly and straight, with comers aligned.

AFTER FREEZING, DO ARRANGE FOR DRYING

DON'T!

  • Don't pack books with spine up (bindings will sag and textblocks will pull out of bindings).
  • Don't pack with unequal sizes side-by-side (smaller ones won't adequately support larger ones).
  • Don't pack a second layer of books on top of spine-down books (creates too much weight for books on bottom and provides inadequate support for books on top).
  • Don't pack books or papers with too much space at the bottom (will allow shifting).
  • Don't haphazardly stack or cross-stack boxes that are filled (risks toppling or crushing boxes).