> There are two issues, the binding glue drying and cracking, the other is > high acid paper. > > Allison
As mentioned these old handbooks were printed on high acidity paper, not quite as cheap as newspaper but certainly not considered to last. I had heard years ago about 'preservation paper' which was alkaline sheets that are placed in between these sorts of old pages, but a quick search hasn't turned up anything. The Library of Congress takes a more thorough approach by dipping the book in a Magnesium Oxide solution http://www.loc.gov/preservation/scientists/projects/mass_deacid.html Probably not for the inexperienced archivist as how do you get the pages ironed properly after it has dried out :). Long-term storage through digital means ie. bitsavers and wide distribution is it seems going to last the longest (thank you bitsavers). Steve