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How Do I Store a Newspaper for the Future?

The difficulty with storing newspapers for any length of time is that newspaper has a high acid content, and therefore breaks down very quickly. Over time, old newspapers become yellow and brittle, making them difficult, if not impossible, to handle without causing further damage. What are comfortable living conditions to humans are often detrimental to newspaper, with heat, humidity and light being major enemies.

Things You'll Need

Archival quality containers

Instructions

- 1
  Keep newspapers flat, rather than folded or rolled, since over time folded newspaper will tend to crack along the folds and rolled newspaper will be difficult to unroll at a later date.
- 2
  Store newspapers in boxes or containers that are of preservation quality, meaning cardboard boxes that are acid and lignin free, or plastic containers that are made from polyethylene or polypropylene. Choose boxes that are large enough to allow the newspaper to lie flat.
- 3
  Separate newspapers and newspaper clippings from other paper documents. Because of its high levels of acidity, newspaper can damage other items due to the acid seeping into adjacent papers.
- 4
  Store newspaper way from sunlight to avoid yellowing or fading, and as far as possible, avoid excess heat and humidity since these conditions can cause mold growth and make the paper brittle.
- 5
  Remove any rubber bands or paperclips. Paperclips can rust and cause tears or stains, and the rubber in rubber bands will deteriorate and damage the newspaper.

Other Collecting