Tip #33: Limit handling damage with phase boxes.

Written By Dmitri Schmidt

Planning on storing books directly on shelves rather than in boxes and folders? Consider using a phase box.

Phase boxes are custom made cases for individual books, that allow you to organize books separately rather than as part of a larger collection.

At Backlog, we talk a lot about the risks of mechanical and handling damage. By providing another barrier between the book and the shelf it’s stored on, you can help prevent this damage. Plus, this can be a cheaper option, since you’re creating the box yourself. Once you’ve finished encasing the book, tie it with a cotton string to keep it all together. But remember! Just like folders and boxes, the board you use to make the box should be acid free.

Want to learn about other threats facing your book collection? Check out our webinar on YouTube!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUZnW3sA-kI

#ArchivalTips #BacklogArchivists #Conservation #Preservation

Dmitri Schmidt

Dmitri plays a pivotal role in coordinating Backlog’s outreach efforts. They curate our weekly #FridayFinds and #ArchivalTips social media posts, shedding light on items discovered in our genealogy work and providing tips and tricks to approaching problems in the archives.

Dmitri holds a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and German Studies from Saint Louis University. During their university years, they dedicated over 1000 hours to interning and volunteering at local St. Louis institutions, including the St. Louis Science Center and the St. Louis University Museum of Art. As the Collections Intern at the Science Center, Dmitri assisted in developing and installing the "Into the Vault" exhibit.

Before joining Backlog, Dmitri served as a Fulbright Grantee, teaching English as a second language in former East Germany. From guiding 11th graders in analyzing pop albums as poetry to discussing the significance of the civil rights movement with 8th graders, they covered a broad spectrum of subjects. While reveling in connecting with students and injecting fun into grammar lessons, Dmitri's deep passion for all things archival eventually drew them back home.

Today, Dmitri works as a Herbarium Assistant at the Missouri Botanical Garden, helping digitize the millions of preserved plant specimens. After being scanned and transcribed, these images aid scholars around the globe in furthering botanical research. Dmitri also serves as the archivist for the Kirkwood Historical Society. They are currently overseeing the “Journeys into Kirkwood’s History” project, which aims to digitize documents related to Kirkwood’s early Black settlements.

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Tip #34: Never store your news clippings next to other documents.

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Tip #32: Balance access with preservation.