Disaster planning

Wim,

 >We are in the process of developing a disaster-recovery plan and are
>left with the following questions:
>
>What is the best way to wrap up thoroughly wet books for freezing purposes:

Cardboard boxes are satisfactory, if they are going to be placed into a
freezer promptly; otherwise, the cardboard will absorb moisture and
loose structural integrity. In North America, it is, more or less, the
custom to place water damaged materials in plastic milk crates, if they
are to be freeze dried, but freeze drying works just as well through
cardboard boxes.

>in plastic bags

If the purpose is to freeze only, I doubt that it matters which plastic
is used.  The vapor pressure of water/ice is such, and the temperature,
at freezing, is such, that nothing is going to migrate from any plastic
to the text block.

However, if freeze drying is intended, plastic bags will only retard
drying.  In this case, simple paper wraps, or sheets of plastic to
separate the books will be sufficient.

Removing soot from books?  If you find an answer to that question, we
would all be interested.  The odor is removed or greatly reduced by
freeze drying, but the soot is very persistent.

One last word of advice.  Keep your disaster response plan as simple and
short as possible.  I once reviewed a disaster plan which consisted of
three large books of conditions and circumstances.  The most important
elements of a functional disaster plan are a clear description of the
chain of command, acknowledgement of who has authority to make which
decisions, the participation of the relevant authorities (fire
department and police) in reviewing the plan, and keeping the list of
names/telephone numbers of decision makers current (including where
people may be contacted on holiday).

Jack C. Thompson

                                  ***
                  Conservation DistList Instance 6:44
                 Distributed: Friday, February 12, 1993
                        Message Id: cdl-6-44-004
                                  ***