Sorting Your Collection

Deciding how to sort and describe your collection is often the most difficult task confronting the collection owner - especially if some or all of the materials are in disarray in various piles, boxes and cabinets and/or have not been actively used for years.

Arranging and describing such a collection is rarely easily or quickly done - but CHART believes it is essential for the long-term survival of any important material amongst your papers.

Through sorting and describing you will better understand and value your materials. A detailed guide to the collection will give potential East Timorese or Australian researchers a clear idea of what you have. An ordered and described collection will be very attractive to potential archival repositories.

See CHART's guidelines on Sorting & Listing your collection.(Available soon)

Storing and Caring for your materials

Paper documents, computer files, photographs, audio and videotapes all have special storage requirements for long-term integrity and survival.

There are some simple and general rules to apply to all materials - and these can be easily respected in standard home conditions. Paper and photos may survive a long time if kept in these conditions; magnetic media are much more prone to degradation in other than professional repository conditions.

The key rule is that your materials need to be kept under constant scrutiny in a physically secure and environmentally stable area - generally some part of the active living area of your home. The back shed, attic or sub-roof space are rarely suitable.

See CHART's guidelines on Storing and Caring for your collection.

More Information

Look at advice sheets prepared by the State Library of Victoria for some ideas on how to care for your collection.

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