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Although paper, especially the paper commonly used in newsprint, is terrible for it. Ever try to archive newspapers without taking extra steps to preserve them?
by freehunter 11y ago
Although paper, especially the paper commonly used in newsprint, is terrible for it. Ever try to archive newspapers without taking extra steps to preserve them? It's gone in a decade or two. Long-term archiving is a problem no matter what the medium.
- deleted 11y ago[deleted]
- dear 11y agoI have books and newspaper from decades ago. They are still fine. No special treatment.
- freehunter 11y agoSome newsprint may last longer than others, but in general, newspapers turn yellow and become brittle after a fairly short period of time. That's why the US Constitution is stored in such an elaborate way, and why big libraries tend to have important and old papers/books stores in a secure vault, and keep newspaper archives on micro film. The Smithsonian has instructions on how to preserve newspaper, and reasons why it deteriorates so quickly: http://siarchives.si.edu/services/forums/collections-care-guidelines-resources/how-do-i-preserve-my-newspaper http://siarchives.si.edu/services/forums/collections-care-gu... I saved some papers from 9/11 in a shoebox in a closet, and when I opened it 10 years later, some of the papers crumbled in my hands. Paper of any kind is fragile and easily damaged by humidity, weather, and fire. We give books and newspaper special treatment every day they're kept safe in our climate-controlled houses. If civilization came crashing down, these archives would be lost very quickly.
- Mandatum 11y agoUnless it's in a landfill where even newspapers last well over 50 years still readable: https://books.google.co.nz/books?id=qhYDD8joCbQC&lpg=PT574&ots=vgqSEgeWz9&dq=landfill%20newspaper%20biodegrade%2050%20year%20old&pg=PT574#v=snippet&q=50-year-old%20newspapers&f=false https://books.google.co.nz/books?id=qhYDD8joCbQC&lpg=PT574&o...