Compiled by the<\/p>\n
BALC Disaster Preparedness Committee<\/p>\n
Baltimore, Maryland
\n1998<\/p>\n
Revised Edition
\n2006
\n(updated links 2013)<\/p>\n
TABLE OF CONTENTS<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n I. INTRODUCTION<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Baltimore Academic Library Consortium (BALC) library directors appointed a Disaster Planning Committee in the fall of 1997. The charge of the directors was to prepare a list of experts, facilities, and local suppliers that could be contacted in a disaster and to compile up-to-date information on the proper techniques for coping with flooding and other threats to a library\u2019s collections. It was hoped that this document would provide a basic template from which each library could fashion its own plan, based on its own unique circumstances and requirements.<\/p>\n The Committee\u2019s main objective was to prepare a manual that could serve as a reference tool in an emergency, especially when power is out and computers are not functioning. The manual, which appeared originally in 1998, presents basic information on how to handle damaged library materials and provides a list of experts, suppliers, and service companies in the Middle Atlantic area. In 2005, the BALC directors, realizing the need for updating the manual, appointed a committee of four to take on this task. This revised plan, appearing in 2006, is the product of that effort.<\/p>\n Jeanne Drewes, formerly Head of the Preservation Department at the Milton S. Eisenhower Library, Johns Hopkins University, and a member of the BALC Disaster Planning Committee, initiated a \u201cDisaster Mitigation Planning Assistance\u201d website that is now being hosted on CoOL by FAIC:\u00a0http:\/\/resources.culturalheritage.org\/disaster<\/a>.\u00a0This website provides broader access to disaster recovery resources in the United States and Canada, and links users to sample disaster plans found at CoOL (Conservation OnLine) and to recovery techniques found at the CoOL and SOLINET websites.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Tom Beck, UMBC <\/a><\/p>\n II. RESOURCES FOR PREPARING DISASTER PLANS<\/p>\n <\/p>\n There is a wealth of information available online to use in developing an emergency preparedness and response plan. The following list contains sources that can be used as starting points for preparing a plan to meet the specific requirements of an individual library:<\/p>\n CoOl<\/strong>\u00a0(Conservation OnLine): Resources for Conservation Professionals<\/strong>, a project of the Preservation Department of Stanford University Libraries (now a project of FAIC), provides full-text documents related to disaster planning and response: The\u00a0Disaster Planning<\/strong>\u00a0section of\u00a0SOLINET\u2019s Preservation Publications\u00a0<\/strong>page includes a list of leaflets that are available online. Two of the leaflets provide guidelines for disaster planning:<\/p>\n 1)\u00a0The Disaster Planning Process<\/span> SOLINET\u2019s Preservation Publications page is located at: The\u00a0Northeast Document Conservation Center<\/strong>\u00a0maintains a\u00a0Disaster Assistance\u00a0<\/strong>site, which includes a useful\u00a0Worksheet for Outlining a Disaster Plan<\/span>.\u00a0 The NDCC Disaster Assistance site is at: The\u00a0Emergency Response and Salvage Wheels<\/span>, developed by the National Task Force on Emergency Response, provide guidelines for steps to be taken during the first 48 hours following an emergency. Order information for the wheels is available at: The\u00a0Federal Emergency Management Agency<\/strong>\u00a0(FEMA) site has an Emergency Response Action Steps page that outlines general salvage techniques and also lists \u201cfirst 48 hours steps\u201d to be taken for each type of resource at: Bibliography<\/span>:<\/strong><\/p>\n American Library Association.\u00a0Disaster Response: A Selected Annotated Bibliography.<\/strong>\u00a0(ALA Library Fact Sheet 10). Kahn, Miriam B.\u00a0Disaster Response and Planning for Libraries<\/strong>. 2d ed.\u00a0 Chicago: American Library Association, 2003.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a><\/span><\/p>\n III. RECOVERY METHODS BY FORMAT<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A. BOOKS<\/p>\n Water Damage<\/p>\n There are five ways to dry wet books and paper records. It is important to remember that no drying method restores materials. They will never be in better condition than they are when drying begins. If time must be taken to make critical decisions, books and records should be frozen to reduce physical distortion and biological contamination.<\/p>\n 1. Air Drying<\/p>\n Air drying is the oldest and most common method of dealing with wet books. It is most suitable for small numbers of damp or slightly wet books and documents. It is seen as inexpensive, but is extremely labor- intensive and can occupy a great deal of space and result in badly distorted bindings. It is seldom successful for drying bound coated paper.<\/p>\n If materials are not completely soaking wet, and the decision is to air dry materials, then use the following procedures:<\/p>\n a. Load materials onto book trucks or pack into plastic milk crates<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n 1) Handle one item at a time.<\/p>\n 2) Use both hands whenever possible.<\/p>\n 3) Pick up or remove items so that other items are not damaged.<\/p>\n 4) Do not press water out of a wet item. If a book is soaking wet, its condition will be so fragile that it should only be handled enough to put it in a carton<\/p>\n 5) Do not stack wet books when packing them in cartons. The weight may damage the ones on the bottom. Instead, place them in an upright position, or only if absolutely necessary, spine down.<\/p>\n 6) If possible, record the call numbers of the first and last book being packed in each carton or truck. Masking tape can be used for labeling.<\/p>\n b. Prepare drying area<\/p>\n 1) Select an area for drying materials. Preferred areas should have large amounts of available table space. Floors in hallways, etc., may also be used for drying books.<\/p>\n 2) Bring in dehumidifiers, place in strategic (and out of the way) locations and turn up to high. Designate a person to check and empty dehumidifiers.<\/p>\n 3) If possible, lower temperature to the coolest feasible level.<\/p>\n 4) Bring in fans and place them in strategic (and out of the way) locations. Use appropriate speed (usually low or moderate) for moving air over materials for maximum drying.<\/p>\n 5) Arrange tables for convenient drying and access to library materials. Cover tables with plastic sheeting, then with paper to absorb water. Change paper regularly (otherwise the books will reabsorb the water).<\/p>\n 6) If the air-drying area is self-contained and full of books, it may be necessary to fumigate the entire room.<\/p>\n c. Move books<\/p>\n When milk crates and book trucks arrive at the drying site(s) the following are recommended:<\/p>\n 1)Lift materials carefully and place on tables and\/or floors.<\/p>\n 2) Keep related materials together whenever possible<\/p>\n 3) Place books with firm bindings on their tail or head edges and open them so the leaves fan and evaporation can begin.<\/p>\n 4)Place soft-cover items with spines down and open them in the middle.<\/p>\n 5) For items that can stand alone without much sagging, turn leaves systematically to accelerate drying.<\/p>\n 6)If water drains away from very wet items, mop up excess water.<\/p>\n 2. Dehumidification<\/p>\n <\/p>\n This method has been used for many years to dry out buildings and holds of ships. Large commercial dehumidifiers are brought to the facility with all collections and equipment left in place. Temperature and humidity can be carefully controlled to user specifications. The technique is successful as long as the process is initiated before swelling and adhesion have taken place. This method has the advantage of leaving the materials in place on the shelves, eliminating the costly step of removal.<\/p>\n 3. Freeze drying<\/p>\n Books and records that are only damp may be dried successfully in a self-defrosting blast freezer if left there long enough. Materials should be placed in the freezer as soon as possible after water damage. Books will dry best if their bindings are supported firmly to inhibit initial swelling. Freezing must happen quickly and temperatures must be below -10 to -40 degrees Fahrenheit to reduce distortion. Expect this method to take from several weeks to several months. Coated paper may adhere with this method.<\/p>\n 4. Vacuum Thermal Drying<\/p>\n Books and records may be dried in a vacuum thermal-drying chamber. The vacuum is drawn, heat is introduced, and the materials are dried above 32 degrees Fahrenheit. This means that the materials stay wet while they dry. Thus, books often become distorted, but loose papers can be dried more successfully.<\/p>\n 5. Vacuum Freeze Drying<\/p>\n Frozen or wet materials are dried at temperatures below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, thus eliminating further distortion. The physical process known as sublimation takes place: ice crystals vaporize without melting. Rare and unique materials can be dried successfully, but leathers and vellums may not survive. Although this method is more costly, the cost of rebinding is reduced and mud or soot is lifted to the surface, making cleaning less time-consuming.<\/p>\n If materials are soaking, dripping wet, they cannot be air-dried successfully. Freeze instead.<\/p>\n If the decision is to freeze-dry library materials, the options are:<\/p>\n a. Ship immediately to freeze-dry facilities.<\/p>\n b. Transport materials to local freezers.<\/p>\n c. Rent refrigerated trucks to transport materials to temporary freezer storage facilities.<\/p>\n d. Leave materials where they are and have the freeze-dry company carry them out.<\/p>\n If materials are packed for freeze-drying, use the following procedures:<\/p>\n FIRE DAMAGE<\/p>\n If there is fire damage, the odor is reduced by freezing the books. There are special sponges for cleaning soot-damaged materials.<\/p>\n MOLD<\/p>\n To combat mold, DON’T ALLOW IT TO DEVELOP! Maintain moderate temperature and humidity (70 – 72 degrees Fahrenheit and 55% or lower rh). Circulate air and dust regularly.<\/p>\n If mold is discovered, check to see if it is active (soft, fuzzy, smears easily) or dormant (powdery, easy to wipe). If it is active and affects only a single book, consider withdrawing the book from the collection. If it is dormant, do the following:<\/p>\n For wet material:<\/p>\n Air dry or freeze, or Brush off spores working outdoors and (if possible) with a fan blowing the spores away.<\/p>\n For dry material:<\/p>\n Brush off spores outdoors and (if possible) with a fan blowing the spores away, or<\/p>\n Vacuum using a triple action filtration vacuum.<\/p>\n Fumigation is no longer recommended for mold because fumigants are toxic to people, the residue remains on the object, and fumigation does not prevent the mold from returning.<\/p>\n Always wear gloves and, if possible, coveralls or a lab coat. Wash hands after handling any object with mold or that is suspected to have mold.<\/p>\n If mold is discovered in large portions of the collection, do not attempt to clean up without first consulting a mycologist to determine if toxic molds are present.<\/p>\n Before books are returned to the shelves, the shelves should be disinfected and the mold situation monitored for a period of time.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Supplies: <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n B. MANUSCRIPT AND RARE BOOK MATERIALS<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Estimating Water Absorption<\/p>\n Manuscripts and books dated earlier than 1840 will absorb water to an average of 80 percent of their original weight. Some may absorb as much as 200% of their original weight. Since there is a greater concentration of proteinaceous materials receptive to water in such early books and papers, they are especially vulnerable to mold when damp. Modern books, other than those with the most brittle paper, will absorb an average of up to 60% of their original weight.<\/p>\n The major part of all damage to bound volumes caused by swelling from the effects of water will take place within the first four hours or so after they have been immersed. Since the paper in the text block and the cardboard cores of book bindings have a greater capacity for swelling than the covering materials used for the bindings, the text block of a soaked book usually expands so much that the spine assumes a concave shape and the fore-edge a convex shape, thus forcing the text block to become partially or completely detached from its binding. The board cores of bindings absorb a great amount of water in such circumstances and are usually the source of mold development between the board papers and flyleaves.<\/p>\n Leather and vellum books especially those of the 15th<\/sup>. 16th<\/sup>, and 17th<\/sup>centuries, can usually be restored successfully if they are dried under very carefully controlled procedures. Such materials are usually classified as rare and should be treated accordingly by not mixing them with less rare materials during preparations for salvage, stabilization, and drying. The advice of a certified book conservator may be essential in order to safely carry out the most appropriate methods. If the material is frozen, freezer paper should be used between each volume to prevent sticking.<\/p>\n Do not wash the following categories of items:<\/p>\n \u00d7<\/span>\u00a0Open or swollen volumes<\/p>\n \u00d7<\/span>\u00a0Vellum or parchment bindings or pages<\/p>\n \u00d7<\/span>\u00a0Leather bindings<\/p>\n \u00d7<\/span>\u00a0Fragile or brittle materials<\/p>\n \u00d7<\/span>\u00a0Materials with water soluble components (freeze these immediately)<\/p>\n Manuscripts<\/p>\n Manuscripts and other materials in single sheets create particularly difficult problems if they have been scattered. An indication of the approximate location in which they are found during the salvage operation may be extremely helpful at a later date. Materials should never be moved from the site in large batches or left piled on top of each other, either at the site or in adjacent temporary housing, since the excessive weight of water-affected books and paper records can lead to severe physical damage.<\/strong><\/p>\n Archival Box Files<\/p>\n Archival box files fare better than book material because their boxes are made of porous board stock that can be expected to absorb most of the water, protecting the contents. Each box should be carefully inspected and the box replaced if it is water-saturated. Failure to do so will increase the risk of physical damage as boxes may collapse from pressure during recovery, shipment, and cold storage. Papers that have adhered together should be frozen. Often the freeze drying will allow the papers to be separated without damage.<\/p>\n Coated Papers<\/p>\n Coated papers are the most vulnerable to complete loss and should not be permitted to begin drying until each volume can be dealt with under carefully controlled conditions. The period between removal and freezing is critical. It may be necessary to re-wet them with clean cold water until they can be frozen. Coated papers must be separated immediately to prevent blocking. If sheets can be separated, they can usually be air dried successfully with some cockling. Cockled pages can be photocopied to retain intellectual content if the original does not need to be kept.<\/strong><\/p>\n Manuscripts, Documents and Small Drawings<\/p>\n Freeze or dry within 48 hours. Don\u2019t separate single sheets. Interleave between folders and pack in milk crates or cartons. Air, vacuum, or freeze dry. Air dry flat in small piles (1\/2 inch) or individually if possible. Change blotting paper beneath the materials before it becomes soaked.<\/strong><\/p>\n Vellum, Parchment, Leather<\/p>\n Handle wet vellum, parchment, and leather very carefully. Always use a support such as cardboard to handle this material. Do not open or close. Do not separate covers.<\/p>\n Wet vellum, parchment, and leather should be air dried where possible. A combination of tension and pressure drying may be required to dry this material successfully. Slow and gentle blotting of saturated areas can enhance drying.<\/p>\n When freezing is necessary, vellum, parchment, and leather items should be separated with freezer paper during packing.<\/p>\n Criteria for High-Priority Water Damage Prevention<\/p>\n \u00d7<\/span>\u00a0High Value (historic, monetary)<\/p>\n \u00d7<\/span>\u00a0Irreplaceable (manuscript or autograph materials)<\/p>\n \u00d7<\/span>\u00a0Fragile Materials (difficult or impossible to recover). Vellum covers, leaves of documents,<\/p>\n books with covers that have “red-dot” and other significantly deteriorated leather (leathers after 1820),<\/p>\n coated paper stocks (e.g. art books, glossy magazines or books with photographic reproductions particularly from<\/p>\n 1890 to 1950).<\/strong><\/p>\n Sources Consulted<\/strong><\/span>:<\/p>\n National Archives and Records Administration<\/p>\n Library of Congress<\/p>\n Fire Damage<\/p>\n \u00d7<\/span>\u00a0Fire damaged books should be handled as little as possible during the retrieval and recovery process<\/p>\n \u00d7<\/span>\u00a0All fire damaged material should be assumed to be fragile and handled as little as possible prior to<\/p>\n treatment<\/p>\n \u00d7<\/span>\u00a0Wrap fire damaged books in clean unprinted paper or freezer paper and place between cardboard sheets<\/p>\n for protection. Clearly label all packages<\/p>\n \u00d7<\/span>\u00a0Burned and wet books should be frozen for later treatment<\/p>\n Mold<\/p>\n \u00d7<\/span>\u00a0Do not wipe mold from wet (or dry) books<\/p>\n \u00d7<\/span>\u00a0Wet moldy books should be frozen, then vacuum freeze dried and fumigated before cleaning<\/p>\n \u00d7<\/span>\u00a0People with a history of allergies and respiratory illness should not handle or clean moldy items<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Supplies:<\/p>\n Supplies that are to be used specifically for archival (including rare book or manuscript) collections:<\/p>\n milk crates or cartons<\/p>\n white blotters (free of dyes)<\/p>\n flat boxes or covered plywood<\/p>\n freezer paper<\/p>\n silica gel<\/p>\n polyethylene bags and\/or sheeting<\/p>\n dehumidifier<\/p>\n vacuum fitted with a HEPA filter<\/p>\n thermohygrograph or sling psychrometer<\/p>\n labels for milk crates<\/p>\n waterproof\/grounded heavy-duty extension cords<\/p>\n absorbent paper towels or plain newsprint paper<\/p>\n plastic sheeting rolls of 3-5 mil thick plastic<\/p>\n recording supplies (including pad of paper, index cards, pens and water proof felt-tip pens)<\/p>\n crepe bandages for wrapping vellum books<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n C. ELECTRONIC AND MAGNETIC RESOURCES<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The best disaster preparation for electronic and magnetic media is toBACK UP\u00a0<\/strong>the data contained on these media. Backups depend on your local hardware and software configurations. With electronic media it is crucial that you be prepared for a failure; the question is not\u00a0if<\/em>\u00a0it will happen, butwhen\u00a0<\/em>it will happen.<\/p>\n Suggestions<\/p>\n \u00b7 If you are connected on a network, become familiar with the network\u2019s backup procedures. Many systems do daily backups and also have drive areas where you can do additional backups.<\/p>\n \u00b7If you are a stand-alone, you should back up important data frequently. Familiarize yourself with your operating system\u2019s backup software.<\/p>\n \u00b7 Do not keep your backups in the same place as your computer. Store them off site.<\/p>\n \u00b7 Know your vendor contractual agreements! Who is responsible for corrupt and lost data? Who backs up tape data, etc.?<\/p>\n \u00b7 Realize that all equipment has a life span. Try to project when disks will fail. Read your warranties and manuals. Look at consumer ratings and tests.<\/p>\n \u00b7Identify staff at various levels of your organization who have responsibility for systems and computer procedures.<\/p>\n \u00b7 Train staff in backup and disaster potentials and how your institution or department deals with them.<\/p>\n Disaster Potentials<\/p>\n The following may occur alone or in combination:<\/p>\n \u00b7 Water – intrusion of water or other liquids into areas or equipment.<\/p>\n \u00b7 Fire – combustible or electric.<\/p>\n \u00b7 Infrastructure outages – power outages, drops, surges, utility outages, telecommunications failure, corrupt data, etc.<\/p>\n \u00b7 Hardware and software failures – numerous, hard to foresee; loss of gateway access, heat, magnetic destruction, hard disk failure, wear of equipment, etc.<\/p>\n \u00b7 Sabotage by hackers, employees, users of systems, viruses, vandalism, etc.<\/p>\n \u00b7 Accidental destruction of hardware, software, or data.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n FORMATS AND TYPES OF DAMAGE<\/p>\n Electronic and magnetic media formats are being upgraded and changed continuously. The special handling instructions listed below for this material reflect current thinking. During emergencies involving this material, care should be taken to ensure that actions reflect technological change and treatments that are appropriate.<\/p>\n In General:<\/p>\n \u00b7 Vacuum cleaners and other equipment with electric motors should not be used near magnetic media. Long suction hoses can be used to keep vacuum cleaners clear of this material.<\/p>\n \u00b7 Chemical or abrasive cleaners should not be used.<\/p>\n \u00b7 Hair dryers or other such equipment should not be used to dry these media.<\/p>\n Water \/ Mildew \/ Soot \/ Smoke \/ Mold \/ :<\/p>\n 1. Magnetic Media<\/p>\n \u00b7 Wear gloves when handling.<\/p>\n \u00b7 Avoid scratching the surface.<\/p>\n \u00b7 Clean drive heads frequently.<\/p>\n \u00b7 Do not use cleaners or hair dryers on these materials.<\/p>\n \u00b7 Water is especially damaging to magnetic tape – the longer the exposure to water the greater the damage. Tape should be stored in water tight containers.<\/p>\n \u00b7 Backup frequently.<\/p>\n \u00b7Success rates for salvaging tape are low and the process is very labor-intensive. Improperly handled tape may damage playback heads.<\/p>\n \u00b7Have these materials processed professionally, if possible.<\/p>\n 2. Hard Disks<\/p>\n \u00b7Hard disks may not be salvageable, depending on the nature of the damage.\u00a0 Recovering data from a hard disk may require the expertise of your institution\u2019s computer systems office or a \u00a0private company.<\/p>\n \u00b7 Backup frequently.<\/p>\n 3. Tapes<\/p>\n <\/strong>\u00b7 The casing may protect the tape. If the tape is damaged remove from the case.<\/p>\n \u00b7 Rinse in lukewarm water – leave wound on the reel.<\/p>\n \u00b7 Place on blotting material to dry.<\/p>\n \u00b7 Insert back in case – make a new copy.<\/p>\n \u00b7 Do not use cleaners or hair dryer (air dry).<\/p>\n 4. Diskettes<\/p>\n <\/strong>\u00b7 Remove diskette from the case and bathe in distilled water.<\/p>\n \u00b7 Dispose of the old casing.<\/p>\n \u00b7 Dry with a lint-free cloth.<\/p>\n \u00b7 Insert back in a new case (a case from an old disk is fine, just as long as it is dry) – make a new copy<\/p>\n \u00b7 Do not use cleaners or hair dryer (air dry).<\/p>\n 5. Compact Disks<\/p>\n \u00b7 Handle disks by the outer edges. Heat and Fire<\/p>\n <\/strong>\u00b7 Heat and fire are extremely damaging to electronic media. Electronic Disaster Resources:<\/strong><\/p>\n In-house resources you may already have access to, or can purchase reasonably.<\/p>\n Programs already on your computer that can be used to help recover files, directories, etc. Rescue Professional Computer File: Data Recovery Software.\u00a0 AllMicro, Inc., Clearwater, Florida.\u00a0 Recover lost data from physically damaged floppies and hard disks<\/p>\n LAN\/WAN Systems.\u00a0 It is best to consult the person responsible for maintaining your Local Area or Wide Area Network.<\/p>\n Your organization\u2019s\/institution\u2019s computer services\/systems department.<\/p>\n Books:<\/p>\n Edwards Disaster Recovery Directory.\u00a0<\/strong>Brookline, MA: Edwards Information, 2006. Cougias, Dorian J., E.L. Heiberger, and Karsten Koop.\u00a0The Backup\u00a0<\/strong>Book: Disaster Recovery from Desktop to Data Center.\u00a0<\/strong>Lecanto, FL: Schaser-Vartan Books, 2003.<\/p>\n Iraci, Joe.\u00a0Disaster Recovery of Modern Information Carriers: Compact Discs, Magnetic Tapes and Magnetic Discs.\u00a0<\/strong>Ottawa: Canadian Conservation Institute, 2002. Toigo, Jon W.\u00a0Disaster Recovery Planning:<\/strong>\u00a0Preparing for the Unthinkable<\/strong>. 3d ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2003.<\/p>\n Wallace, Michael, and Lawrence Webber.The Disaster Recovery Handbook: A Step-by-Step Plan to Ensure Business Continuity and Protect Vital Operations, Facilities, and Assets.<\/strong>NewYork:\u00a0<\/strong>American Management Association, 2004.<\/p>\n Websites<\/p>\n Business Protection Systems<\/strong> CBL Data Recovery Technologies Inc.<\/strong> Disktek Data Recovery\u00a0<\/strong> Flashback Data<\/strong> McAfee, Inc.<\/strong> Strohl Systems Group, Inc.\u00a0<\/strong> Symantec Corporation<\/strong> Local area companies:<\/p>\n American Data Recovery\u00a0<\/strong>(offices nationwide) Blue Lightning Computers, Inc.<\/strong><\/p>\n 301-445-3080 Data and Information Solutions Corporation (DISC)<\/strong> .<\/a><\/p>\n D. MAGNETIC MEDIA\/FILM, OPTICAL DISCS, VIDEOS<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Magnetic tape used in videos is similar in chemical composition to motion picture film and to microfilm; therefore, salvage methods are similar as well. Recovery efforts for optical disks (CD and DVD formats) are similar to those used for magnetic tapes.<\/p>\n Priorities: Unique items or non-commercial tapes and films should be ranked first for recovery. Older tapes\/film should be treated before new tapes\/film. Commercial and non-unique tapes\/film should be replaced if they are water-damaged.<\/p>\n Water Damage<\/p>\n \u00b7Do not allow tape to dry out. Any sediments in the contaminating water will dry onto the tape and be more difficult to remove.<\/p>\n \u00b7Rinse with distilled water at room temperature. In a water disaster, videos and films can be immersed in water for several days if the water is clean.<\/p>\n \u00b7If water is muddy or sewage contaminated, use soapy water at room temperature to remove debris.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00d7<\/span>Use just enough of a mild detergent (dishwashing liquid that is dye-free and perfume-free is OK) that is required to remove any oils or greases from the tapes. When wiping debris from an optical disc, wipe from the center of the disk to the edge (NOT around the disk in a circular motion).<\/p>\n \u00b7Dry using air drying, dehumidification, or vacuum drying. Do not use freezer drying, vacuum thermal drying, or vacuum freeze drying. Freezing of tapes can actually cause more damage. When drying an optical disk, take care not to scratch the surface with a \u00b7If a cassette has been exposed to water for an extended period of time, it may be necessary to open the cassette and check the condition of the cassette spindles and springs. If they show evidence of corrosion or rusting, they should be replaced.<\/p>\n \u00b7When all tapes and containers are dry, have the tapes cleaned professionally or use a special tape-cleaning machine.<\/p>\n Mold<\/p>\n Mold is attracted to magnetic tape-based materials and videotapes. Mold should be removed by professional tape restoration firms to prevent loss of image, sound, or information.<\/p>\n \u00b7Properly equip recovery personnel with gloves, eye protection, dust\/solvent mask with a HEPA filter, and \u00a0protective smock or lab coat. Inhalation of mold spores and bodies can be a significant health risk.<\/p>\n \u00b7 Isolate the tape from unaffected tapes.<\/p>\n \u00b7Keep at a humidity <50% RH and a temperature < 75 degrees Fahrenheit.<\/p>\n \u00b7Vacuum the mold from the tape pack or disk, avoiding direct contact. The vacuum should be fitted with a HEPA filter.<\/p>\n \u00b7Brush the remaining debris from the tape pack or disk.<\/p>\n Fire Damage<\/p>\n \u00b7Tapes that have experienced heat or fire damage can be respooled onto new tape reels if the old reels have warped or charred. Tapes in cassettes may need to be transferred to a new cassette if the cassette shell has warped.<\/p>\n \u00b7If the tape is \u201cblocked\u201d (the binder coating melted and the tape winds are stuck together), there is no way to recover it unless it has been backed up on another tape in another location.<\/p>\n \u00b7A slightly warped CD or DVD may still be playable, but recovery may not be possible if it is severely warped.<\/p>\n Shock<\/p>\n \u00b7For mild shock, re-tension the tape pack and respool to correct any shifts in the tape pack wind.<\/p>\n \u00b7If the tape reel or cassette has been damaged, the broken pieces should be replaced.<\/p>\n \u00b7In more severe forms of shock, resplicing of the tape may be required.<\/p>\n \u00b7A shattered CD or DVD cannot be repaired.<\/p>\n Particulate Matter (Soot, Dust)<\/p>\n \u00b7Soot or dust can be vacuumed from tapes, cassettes, or disks. Avoid contact with the material as much as possible.<\/p>\n \u00b7Soot or dust that cannot be removed by vacuuming may be wiped off with a lint-free cloth dampened with distilled water. Avoid getting a tape wet if it is not already wet.<\/p>\n Magnetism<\/p>\n \u00b7A tape that has been inadvertently demagnetized usually cannot be recovered with a commercial \u00b7 noise ratio would be required.<\/p>\n \u00b7 Stray magnetism is not a problem for CDs or DVDs<\/p>\n SUPPLIES: CLEANING AND RESTORATION FIRMS:<\/strong> Chace Audio Archive Services (sound and audio restoration) Ontrack Data Recovery (magnetic media, computer tapes, hard drives and diskettes) Smolian Sound Studios (sound restoration, classical music archives) Tek Media (services and supplies for AV materials, particularly video) VidiPax (video, magnetic media, some film) <\/p>\n EXPERTS:<\/p>\n Association for Recorded Sound Collections, Box 543, Annapolis, MD\u00a0 21404-0543; (410-757-0488) Gilles St. Laurent, Audio Conservator, National Library of Canada, 395 Wellington Street, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0N4; (613-996-5423)<\/p>\n National Center for Film and Video Preservation at the American Film Institute <\/p>\n
\nSandy Marinaro, Villa Julie College
\nJack Ray, Loyola\/Notre Dame Library
\nTamara Smith, University of Baltimore
\n<\/span><\/p>\n
\nresources.conservation-us.org<\/a>
\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\n2)\u00a0Contents of a Disaster Plan<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nhttp:\/\/www.solinet.net\/preservation\/preservation_templ.cfm?doc_id=115 (SOLINET is now a fee-based organization called LYRASIS<\/a>.)<\/p>\n
\nwww.nedcc.org\/free-resources\/disaster-assistance\/<\/a><\/p>\n
\nwww.heritagepreservation.org\/catalog\/wheel1.htm<\/a><\/p>\n
\nwww.fema.gov\/environmental-planning-and-historic-preservation-program\/emergency-response-action-steps<\/a><\/p>\n
\nwww.ala.org\/tools\/libfactsheets\/alalibraryfactsheet10<\/a><\/p>\n\n
\n<\/strong><\/span>Dehumidifiers
\nFans
\nPlastic Sheeting
\nPaper, plain (unprinted) newsprint or absorbent paper towels
\nFreezer Paper
\nMilk Crates or Cartons
\nBook Trucks
\nLabeling Supplies: masking tape, waterproof felt-tip pens
\nRubber Gloves
\nSponges for cleaning soot
\nDisinfectant for cleaning shelves<\/p>\n
\n\u00b7 On recorded side (no writing), working from the center of the disk in a straight line, wipe off with a soft, dry cloth (lint-free is preferable).
\n\u00b7 Use distilled water if available.
\n\u00b7 Do not use cleaners or hair dryer (air dry).<\/p>\n
\n\u00b7 Assess the damage. If it is determined that the damage is not severe, follow the instructions above for water damage.
\n\u00b7 If damage is assessed as serious, no backups exist, and data is important, a conservator or other professional should be consulted.<\/p>\n
\nExamples:\u00a0 Backup – Diagnostics – Recycle bin – System information – Undelete.<\/p>\n
\n(see\u00a0www.disaster-risk-planning.com\/EDRD_info.html<\/a>)<\/p>\n
\nwww.cci-icc.gc.ca\/caringfor-prendresoindes\/resources-ressources-eng.aspx?ident=9<\/a><\/p>\n
\n1-800-594-3714\u00a0<\/strong>
\nDisaster recovery and business continuity planning software.
\nwww.businessprotection.com<\/a><\/p>\n
\n1-800-551-3917
\nData recovery services for failed hard drives in laptops, desktop computers, data servers, raid arrays, tapes, and all other data storage and media.
\nwww.cbldatarecovery.com<\/a><\/p>\n
\n1-888-839-0949
\nWorld-renowned experts at recovering data lost due to file corruption, mechanical or electrical failure, virus activity, system malfunctions, accidental erasure.
\nwww.disktek.com\/disaster.html<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n
\n1-866-785-5700
\nData recovery (emergency same-day shipping available), computer forensics, tape extraction, cloning, and remote backup services.
\nwww.flashbackdata.com\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n
\n1-888-847-8766
\nSecurity and intrusion prevention software for various formats (ViruScan, etc.).
\nwww.mcafee.com\/us\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n
\n1-800-634-2016
\nBusiness continuity software and services. Authors of LDRPS (disaster recovery planning system) and BIA Professional (business impact analysis software).
\n(Acquired by SunGard<\/a> in 2008.)<\/em><\/p>\n
\n1-800-441-7234
\nWide range of planning, backup, and recovery software for various formats (Norton Utilities, etc.).
\nwww.symantec.com\/index.jsp<\/a><\/p>\n
\nTysons Boulevard
\n1600 Tysons Blvd. 8th Floor
\nMcLean, VA 22102
\n1-800-450-9282
\nhttp:\/\/www.adrdatarecovery.com\/virginia.html<\/a>
\nServices: Emergency Data Recovery of all operating systems and media; remote recovery; computer forensics; data conversion
\nArea: Maryland, DC, Virginia<\/p>\n
\ninfo@blcc.com
\nhttp:\/\/www.blcc.com
\nServices: Computer repair; data recovery; web page design; web server; custom programming; technical assistance.<\/p>\n
\n(formerly Maryland Data Recovery)
\n4203 Ulster Road
\nBeltsville, MD 20705
\n301-931-3282
\nInfo@disc-recovery.com
\nhttp:\/\/www.disc-recovery.com
\nServices: Drive-independent spin-stand data recovery of all operating systems; removable media recovery.<\/p>\n
\ntowel.<\/p>\n
\nrecorder. A special recorder capable of reading information from a tape with a very low signal-to<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Dehumidifier
\nDistilled water
\nDust\/solvent mask
\nEye protection
\nGloves
\nLab coat
\nLint-free cotton cloth
\nMild detergent
\nVacuum (with HEPA filter)<\/span><\/p>\n
\nAudio Mechanics (music and sound restoration)
\nhttp:\/\/www.audiomechanics.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n
\nhttp:\/\/www.chacearchive.com\/<\/a>
\nNBD International, Inc. (water- and smoke-damage recovery of videotape)
\nhttp:\/\/www.nbdint.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n
\nhttp:\/\/www.ontrack.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n
\nhttp:\/\/www.soundsaver.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n
\nhttp:\/\/www.rtico.com\/tekmedia\/<\/a><\/p>\n
\nhttp:\/\/www.vidipax.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n
\nThe ARSC Technical Committee has compiled an Audio Preservation and Restoration Directory:
\nhttp:\/\/www.arsc-audio.org\/Directory2005-07-25.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n
\n2021 North Western Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90027; (323-856-7600)
\nhttp:\/\/www.afi.com\/about\/preservation\/ncfvp.aspx<\/a><\/p>\n