For the most part, the ideal environment for long term storage of materials is about 70° Farenheit with humidity below 55%.
Do not store materials in spaces that experience large fluctuations of temperature and humidity.
Stark fluctuations can speed up the deterioration of your materials or contribute to the development of major issues i.e., paper becoming brittle, mold growth.
The benefit of having smaller enclosures for materials is that enclosures have their own micro climates that can be controlled due to their smaller scale. Smaller enclosures also help stop the spread of things like mold and pest infestations.
| Issue | How to Identify | Mitigation or Solution |
| Light | Fading, yellowing, darkening, bleaching, embrittlement and color change of paper, leather, cloth and ink. A book on a shelf might have it's spine fade and be a different color from the cover. | Keep items out of direct sunlight, by storing in opaque containers or utilizing curtains. If framing materials and placing them in light, be sure the glass of the frame is UV resistant. This is irreversible. |
| Pests | Live creatures, insect droppings, larvae, or insect bodies. Mice or bird droppings. If any of these are present, review the nearby material and space to see if there are more. Books or documents might show evidence of pests nibbling away at materials. | Avoid storing in dark and damp areas. Regular dusting and vacuuming can help eliminate bugs. Review area to close up gaps or holes that may be allowing bugs, birds or mice inside. Set and monitor sticky or mice traps. Contact a professional for extensive infestations. |
| Water | Water damage can leave stains on book covers or documents. Paper will become textured or crinkled when dried after experiencing water damage. Crinkling is irreversible aesthetic damage. Pages sticking together. | Keep materials away from known leaks or pipes. Practice safe handling by keeping beverages away when viewing materials. To be avoided so that it does not progress to a mold outbreak. |
| Mold | Mold is either active or inactive which affects how you handle removal and cleaning. Active mold is sticky and can smear while inactive mold is dry and powdery/dusty. Mold can have any color. There may be a musty odor in the space or on the material. If item has evidence of water damage, it increases likelihood of mold. | Remove or cut off source of water/humidity. Once mold presence has been confirmed, contact a professional. |
| Foxing | Appears as reddish brown smudges on paper or cloth. Can sometimes be misidentified as mold. | Foxing is caused by an environment with high humidity. This is irreversible. It is best to provide ideal conditions to avoid getting to this point. |
