Has anyone found the best way to preserve paper tape software?

From: Joe <rigdonj_at_intellistar.net>
Date: Wed Dec 29 19:00:52 1999

At 03:25 PM 12/29/99 -0500, John B asked:
>Should it be kept in vacuum sealed bags or out of the light?
>
>I don't want this stuff to start curling or become brittle. Has anyone
>looked at how old paper should be preserved?

  I'm sure that it has the same problems as regular paper including the
fact that it has acid residues in it that will cause it self-destruct even
in a vacuum. I expect that it needs to be preserved the same as most other
paper including being being treated to neutralize the acid. I once meet
someone that preserved books for the Smithsonian or one of the other big
librarys. He told me that the acid neutralization was done with a zinc
compound and in a huge pressure chamber. He also said that the treatment
took about six months! I wish I had gotten more details but hind-sight is
always 20-20.

   Joe
Received on Wed Dec 29 1999 - 19:00:52 GMT

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