Images displaying the damage that can be done to materials by paper clips, and rusted metal fasteners
It’s preservation week! An entire week dedicated to discussing the concerns and solutions regarding preservation of rare books and unique collections. Here in the Archives & Special Collections at the University of Puget Sound, we’ll be showing you some common preservation concerns, highlighting our own collections.
Metal Fasteners:
Metal fasteners can cause considerable damage to materials, whether it be through the rust and corrosion of the metal, or the tearing and damage done by metal points. It is therefore important to remove these items from materials (even if they are in good condition). Metal fasteners include commonplace paperclips and staples (and even small nails!). Considerable damage can be caused by careless removal of these metal fasteners, but there are a few simple techniques to follow when removing them:
Staples – using a flat spatula or similar instrument, lift the legs of the staples to pry all fastened edges away from the paper (essentially straightening the staple) before removal.
Paper clips – using a flat spatula or similar instrument, pry up the front and back of the clip before removal.
Sources:
By Monica Patterson