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Acidic and Alkaline Paper in the NLM Collection, August 2000
In August of 2000 a survey of the NLM post 1800 serial and monograph collections was conducted to determine what parts of the collection could be deacidified. Summary data from the survey is presented in this document. Additional information related to acid paper in the collection may be found in the report Mass Deacidification Pilot Project (MS Word 97).
Methodological Notes
One thousand volumes were sampled out of a total of 1,948,600 volumes in the post -1800 monograph and serial collections. Volumes were surveyed from six subcollections, the same subcollections included in an earlier study of brittleness done in 1987. These subcollections were:
1. Serials published 1989 to present, classed W1
2. Serials published 1914 to present, classed other than W1
3. Serials published 1871-1989, classed W1
4. Serials published 1801-1870
5. Monographs published 1914 to present
6. Monographs published 1801-1914
The following data were collected about each volume:
- Bibliographic/Identification: Title, call number, date, country of publication, item barcode, collection location
- Size: Height, width, thickness, weight
- Physical condition: Binding style, acid or alkaline paper as measured by a pH testing pen, coated or calendared paper, brittleness as measured by fold test, damage
Results
Volumes on alkaline paper make up 37.1% of the collection (722,930 volumes). Acidic volumes make up 62.9% of the collection (1,225,670 volumes). Twelve percent of the collection (233,830 volumes) is on brittle paper (paper that breaks at 2 double folds or less). Fifty-one percent of the collection (991,840 volumes) are on acidic but not yet brittle paper. Fifty-two percent of the acidic volumes (520,280 volumes) are on uncoated paper and are candidates for deacidification. An additional 25% of the acidic volumes are on slightly coated paper and may benefit from deacidification in the future.The proportion of acidic volumes being added to the collection declined from 80% to 12% between 1976 and 2000.
A similar survey conducted in 1985 showed that 168,450 volumes were brittle. Between 1985 and 2000, an additional 65,380 volumes became brittle. NLM has microfilmed 42.5% of the 233,830 brittle volumes in the collection.
NLM Collection Profile August 2000 |
Acidic, Not Brittle Paper, August 2000 |
Acid vs Alkaline Volumes by Publication Date August 2000 |
Microfilming Status, August 2000 |
Last updated: 23 December 2003
First published: 01 August 2000
Metadata| Permanence level: Permanent: Stable Content