Shelving

Gwen Gregory <hudgins.m [at] gain__mercer__edu> writes

>I am looking for information on safe stains and finishes for wooden
>shelving in a special collection of historical books.

Unfortunately, wooden shelving is not a good idea for books,
especially for special collections.  The best thing to do is to
cover them with polyester or a heavy acid-free, buffered board.
There are some non-formaldehyde-based coatings out there that we
have used at home because my son is an asthmatic, but I cannot speak
to their offgassing effects on books, etc.  Steel shelving with a
powder coating is preferred and then baked enamel coated steel that
has had a chance to offgas. Nice ends can be attached to the ends of
the stacks for aesthetic reasons.

Gregor Trinkaus-Randall
Collection Management/Preservation Specialist
Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners
648 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02215-2070
617-267-9400
Fax: 617-421-9833

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 9:58
                 Distributed: Sunday, February 4, 1996
                        Message Id: cdl-9-58-011
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