[PADG:1508] Re: Irradiation of cultural materials

[Hannah Frost <hfrost@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Thanks for sharing this article, Irene. The use of irradiation and its 
potentially adverse effects on magnetic media were mentioned briefly at the 
AMIA conference last month. As I am preparing to send a package of videos 
to New York for reformatting, I called FedEx and Airborne Express. 
According to the customer services agents with whom I spoke, neither are 
irradiating packages at this time.

________________________
Hannah Frost
Media Preservation Librarian
Stanford University Libraries
Wilbur Modulars A25A
Stanford, CA   94305-6004

tel (650) 724-4047
fax (650) 725-0547
hfrost@xxxxxxxxxxxx


At 07:57 AM 11/28/2001 -0500, you wrote:
>The Smithsonian has issued a report on the affect of irradiation on
>materials which is very interesting.  The full report can be found at
>http://www.si.edu/scmre/mail_irradiation.html
>
>The conclusions which are of particular interest to libraries are:
>
>"Materials of cellulosic composition, especially plant fibers and
>paper, will be quite seriously affected. They
>will loose significant tensile strength and will become more brittle,
>while the induced chemical changes,
>chain scission and oxidation, will accelerate their aging processes. "
>
>
>AND
>
>"Magnetic media (floppy disks, zip disks, audio and video tape) will
>probably loose significant information
>content. Undeveloped photographic film will be exposed. "
>
>Do any of you know of any research of the effects of irradiation on
>library materials?
>
>Also, if you know of any changes in procedures in acquiring or lending
>library materials based on the likelihood of more widespread use of
>irradiation to sanitize mail, please let me know.
>
>Does this sound like a possibility for a discussion group at New
>Orleans?
>
>Irene