Caring for your collections

Further information about collection care

Caring for your collections

A handy set of fact sheets with information about preserving, storing and protecting your collections.

If you are looking to have conservation work performed on your own collections, we recommend you contact the Australian Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Materials (AICCM). The AICCM is a national organisation for conservators and people interested in the preservation of cultural material, and provides an online directory of conservators in private practice and guidelines for commissioning conservation treatment.

Fact sheets

Care of paper-based materials

General advice on caring for paper-based materials like books, photos, documents and more.

Woman carefully repairing old map

Caring for photographs

Photographs are vital visual memories that need to be protected. Here are some suggestions on how to best care for them.

Woman carefully repairing glass portrait

Dealing with mould

Mould can not only damage paper based materials but is a significant health risk.

Woman removing mould from silk banner

Storage of newspapers

Newspapers are generally not made to last. In order to prolong their life a number of steps may be taken, the most vital of these being adequate storage.

Newpapers folded up ontop of each other

Drying a wet book

How to dry a wet book carefully without damaging it.

Old brown leather books on bookcase

Smoke and odour removal

How to rescue paper based materials that have been affected by smoke or odours.

Gloved hands handling objects wrapped in brown paper and string