Collections Safety & Security

Discover essential tools to protect your collections and safeguard the people who care for them. This resource packed page offers expert guides on emergency prep, conservation, and security best practices.

What are the Risks?

As studies have shown, archivists face a wide range of hazards ranging from chemical exposure to physical strain. In the following links and materials is advice and strategies for ensuring you, your, coworkers, volunteers, and others can navigate the issues which can come up in collections.

NPS Conserve O Gram - Hazardous Materials in Your Collections

Densho - Protecting Archival Materials from Fires, Floods and Other Disasters

NEDCC - Protection from Loss: Water and Fire Damage, Biological Agents, Theft, and Vandalism

NPS Conserve O Gram - Safe Techniques For Archival Surveying And Assessment

NPS Conserve O Gram - Safer Cleaning Alternatives For The Museum & Visitor Center

Situations to Be Aware of & Their Resources

Chemical Exposure

Chemical exposure in archives can stem from deteriorating materials or past treatments. Learn how to recognize chemical emergencies, protect yourself, and respond effectively with the resources below.

What to Do?

CDC - What to Do in a Chemical Emergency

CDC - What to Do in a Chemical Emergency - First Aid

Saint Luke's - First Aid: Chemical Exposure

HEC - What to do When Exposed to Hazardous Material

Conserve O Grams from NPS

Arsenic Health and Safety Update

Cobalt Indicating Silica Gel Health and Safety Update

Dichlorvos (Vapona) Update

Ethylene Oxide Health And Safety Update

Fossil Vertebrates As Radon Sources: Health Update

Hazardous Materials Health And Safety Update

Health And Safety Risks of Asbestos

Fire

Fires in archives can destroy irreplaceable materials and pose serious safety risks. Learn how to prevent, prepare for, and respond to fire emergencies with the resources linked below.

First Aid & Emergency Planning

Knowing first aid and having an emergency plan are vital in protecting people and collections. Be prepared to act quickly and effectively with the guidance and resources provided below.

What to Do?

Learn First Aid

Make a First Aid Kit

Conserve O Grams from NPS

An Introduction To Respirator Use In Collections Management

NEDCC Leaflets

Emergency Planning

Worksheet for Outlining an Emergency Response Plan

Mold

Mold can quickly damage archival materials and impact health. Learn how to identify, prevent, and safely respond to mold outbreaks in collections using the resources linked below.

What to Do?

Mold Damage

Managing a Mold Infestation: Guidelines for Disaster Response

CDC - Mold Clean Up Guidelines and Recommendations

Northern States Conservation Center - Mold Resources

Conserve O Grams from NPS

Introduction to Fire Detection and Automatic Sprinklers for Cultural Heritage

NEDCC Leaflets

Preservation 101: The Building and Environment - Mold Response Instructions

Pesticides & Pest Management

Pests and pesticide residues can threaten collections and staff health. Discover how to identify infestations, manage risks, and handle pesticides safely with the information and tools below.

What to Do?

American Museum of Natural History - Integrated Pest Management

Archives & Records Association - Integrated Pest Management for Paper Archives

National Archives - Dealing with Insects

MuseumPests - Integrated Pest Management for Cultural Heritage

Conserve O Grams from NPS

Chronology Of Pesticides Used On National Park Service Collections

Charted Graph

Guidelines For The Handling Of Pesticide Contaminated Collections

Physical Properties And Health Effects of Pesticides Used On National Park Service Collections

NEDCC Leaflets

Integrated Preventive Pest Management

Security in the Archives

Security in Museums, Archives and Libraries

Produced by the Council fro Museums, Archvies and Libraries

This practical guide offers clear advice on improving security in museums, archives, and libraries. It covers risk assessment, theft prevention, emergency procedures, and staff responsibilities, helping institutions protect collections while maintaining public access.

Section 5 - Security

Produced by the Society of American Archivists

Section 5 emphasizes the importance of layered security—from site and perimeter to collections and IT—supported by vigilant staff and tailored risk assessments to safeguard archives against threats like theft, vandalism, unauthorized access, and terrorism.

Cornell University Library explains "Libraries and archives must have safety and security plans in place to ensure that staff are prepared to respond to fire, water emergencies, and other large-scale threats to collections." See some of their recommendations for security and safety here.