Ten Top Tips for handling papers:
1. Loose papers from a folder or envelope can usually rest flat on the table without supports. Soft weights can be used to gently hold folded items - such as letters - open, where they do not naturally lie open.
2. Be mindful that the humidity of fingers can cause ink on both handwritten and typewritten documents to smudge. Try to limit handling of loose items and - where possible - handle items only by the blank parts of a page.
3. Turn loose pages with two hands by holding opposite corners of the paper and then placing them face down in a new pile. We recommend working from right to left, to make sure items remain in the same order that you found them. Original order is very important in archives, as it may tell us something about the context of the materials.
4. Remember not to lick your finger before turning a page!
5. Do not remove paperclips from pages without permission. Ask a member of staff for advice.
6. Take particular care to support any items with wax seals or pendants when turning or unfolding documents. The seals are fragile and must not be knocked or have weight or pressure applied on them. Neither should they be allowed to hang off the edge of a work area.
7. Avoid tapping papers against the tabletop to straighten or square them, as this can damage the edges. To keep a file of papers tidy, take extra care when placing items face down on top of each other.
8. When you become absorbed in your work it is easy to forget handling techniques - be mindful not to lean on the papers and keep them on the table at all times.
9. When you are finished looking through a file, take care to place documents back into the correct enclosures in the same order as you found them.
10. Report any issues or signs of damage to a member of staff, or ask for help or advice if you are unsure about how to handle something. We're always happy to help!
University of Exeter LibGuide is licensed under CC BY 4.0
