C ONSERVATION GUIDELINES Packing Bins to Transport Library Materials Library operations increasingly call for the transport of books and other materials between libraries and among units such as the Harvard Depository, HCL Technical Services at 625 Massachusetts Avenue, Preservation & Imaging Services in Widener Library, and the Weissman Preservation Center. Packing, moving, and unpacking can damage materials and should be done with care. CHOOSING CONTAINERS AND CUSHIONING: Heavy-duty polypropylene bins provide sturdy support. Blue bins are the standard containers for transporting materials between HCL Technical Services and HCL libraries. They come in two sizes (large and small) and may be obtained from the mail rooms in Widener Library and HCL Technical Services. Gray bins are used to ship books to and from the Weissman Center and HCL Imaging Services. Foam rubber packing sheets, custom-sized to fit in bins, provide cushioning. These too are available to HCL Libraries from the HCL Technical Services mail room at 625 Massachusetts Avenue. GENERAL PRINCIPLES: Limit the weight of packed bins to no more than forty pounds so that they can be lifted comfortably. Bins weighing more than 40 pounds will not be accepted by the mail room. Distribute the weight evenly within the bins. Use foam sheets as cushioning so that books do not shift and bang against each other. Place books spine down when storing on edge. Place larger books on the bottom when shipping flat. granted provided that the document is kept intact and that this copyright notice is included. -1-
STEP 1: Arrange sheets of foam on the bottom and sides of the bin. STEP 2: Place books in the bin according to their size and weight and according to the number of items. Books should be placed flat or spine down with the weight evenly distributed within the bin. A smaller size bin is available for small shipments. Options include: A. Full bin, no supplemental cushioning. granted provided that the document is kept intact and that this copyright notice is included. -2-
B. Single roll of foam in the middle of a row of books to distribute weight on either end. C. Two rolls of foam, one on each end, to keep weight centered. D. Oversize items stored flat, largest volume on the bottom, and a small piece of folded foam at either or both ends to prevent shifting. Place a piece of foam on top of items. granted provided that the document is kept intact and that this copyright notice is included. -3-
E. Small bins are available for shipping small numbers of books or other items. Place books spine down, parallel to the long sides of the bin. STEP 3: Close the bins and secure them with plastic ties, available from the mail rooms, or with cotton typing tape (see detail). This prevents the top of the bin from opening and protects the contents during inclement weather. granted provided that the document is kept intact and that this copyright notice is included. -4-
granted provided that the document is kept intact and that this copyright notice is included. -5-