NPL Tasks: Label Repair

Acidification is a natural process that takes place as some types of paper ages. As the paper ages, the pH creeps lower, resulting in brittle, yellow, faded paper. NPL tries to preserve original labels as often as possible. At times, this preservation priority will require reassembling labels that have fallen to pieces. There is not much we can do about the acidification- the solutions libraries have are untested in the collections world, with our various types of papers, inks, and pencils. 

When you need to repair a label, you will need to gather all the supplies and have them in place before you start. Let others in the lab know what you are doing, so nobody turns on a fan near you or otherwise disrupts the delicate work you'll be doing.

The first step is the same for every conservation task- lay out your workspace in a clean and well ventilated area.

1. Lay out the supplies you'll be using on a clean workstation with good light. Using one of the lighted magnifying glasses is best.
   
   
2. Carefully lay the broken label out on an ethafoam lined cafeteria tray. Use regular or angle tipped tweezers if need be. Do not use needle tipped tweezers- they will tear through brittle, acidified papers. Leave a little space between the mated edges.
   
   
3. Measure the loosely reconstructed label, and 1 inch to the length. For the width, you can either measure the label and add an inch, or, in cases where ink is fading, double or triple the length to give you room to copy the label information.
   
   
4. Cut the card stock to the size in the previous step. On one side, write 'repaired by', your name, date, and what actions you are taking.
   
   
5. On the other side, using a Micron pen, copy any faded writing from the label to the card stock.
   
   
6. Cut the Mylar to 1/2 inch wider than and twice as long as the card stock piece. Fold in half and crease tightly.
   
   
7. Looking at the pieces of the label, plan out where each piece will be taped. Use the ATG in those areas. Excess ATG can be scraped off with a scalpel or tweezers.
   
   
8. Using tweezers or a strip of card stock, move the largest section of the label over the prepared area. Make sure you are happy with the alignment, then lower the label on to the card. Press gently, in the center, to get the ATG to hold.
   
   
9. 1. Repeat this for each piece.
      
      
10. Scrape off any exposed ATG.
    
    
11. Using a large puffy brush, sweep across the labels to slowly press them into the ATG evenly.
    
    
12. Put the repaired label in the Mylar sleeve.

It will be up to the collection manager to decide if the label will be returned to the drawer, or archived in the office.