Magnetic media (cassettes or reel-to-reel), discs (CDs and LPs), and home movies should be stored vertically in a cool dry place. Keep films in their canisters or boxes to keep out dust and light. Make sure playback equipment is clean and in good working order. Label your containers and boxes for easy tracking. Reel-to-reel tapes and home movies should be stored tails out (wound backwards to the reel). Remove copy protection tabs to avoid accidentally overwriting.

Store books in a safe environment and away from direct sunlight. Aim for a stable environment without sudden fluctuations, with humidity levels ideally at around 50-65% RH. Use polyester covers to protect dust jackets or to keep deteriorating leather from staining other books. Fragile or damaged books should be stored in boxes. Handle books with clean, dry hands. Dust the tops of the books regularly to reduce pests and mould. Seal wooden shelves with water-based polyurethane or latex paint.

Back up multiple copies of your data on multiple types of media, and store in multiple locations. Name and organise your files and add to the file’s metadata. Migrate and refresh files when you get new software packages or a new operating system. Save files in stable, non-proprietary formats such as .pdf, .jpg, or .tif. Select and save only those files (email, photos, etc.) that are particularly important to you.

Store textiles in an environment where you are comfortable being. Basements can be damp and lead to mould. Box or roll and cover textiles to prevent damage from dust and light. Inspect regularly for pests and insects. Do not fold if you don’t have to. If you have to, pad the folds with tissue. Display dyed textiles away from direct light to reduce fading. Hang historic clothing on well-padded hangers and cover with plain cotton.

Store papers in a stable environment where you are comfortable being (the cooler the better, but make sure temperatures don’t fluctuate!). Basements can be damp and lead to mould, so keep in mind humidity levels should ideally be at 50-65% RH. Organise papers into acid-free folders and boxes for easy access and to protect from light and damage (~50 lux is safe). Handle papers with clean, dry hands. Protect artwork and documents from direct sunlight when displaying. Don’t force rolled or folded items open if they resist. Pay attention to paper yellowing, pests, cockling, running of inks and dyes, staining etc. In the event of damage or concern, call a conservator!

Handle photographs at the edges with clean, dry hands. Store photographs in albums that have acid-free pages or polyester, polypropylene, or polyethylene sleeves. Mount photographs with photo corners, not glue or tape. Store photographs in an environment where you are comfortable (the cooler the better, and keep RH levels between 50-60% RH). Basements can be damp and lead to mould. Protect from direct sunlight when displaying.

Carefully handle your painting. Make sure your hands are dry and clean, and use cotton gloves only as necessary, keeping dirt and fingerprints away. Carry the painting with two hands from the sides of the frame or stretcher. Do not carry a painting by the top of the frame or stretcher. Only handle paintings that have an intact paint surface and a stable frame and stretcher. Make sure frames and loose keys/wedges are secure on the stretcher or strainer. Keep the environment stable, avoid warm temperatures, too low or too high relative humidity, and avoid UV light.