Libraries and historical organizations are often asked for advice on preservation by patrons and members. To meet this need, Northeast Document Conservation Center has developed a list of helpful hints for preserving family documents and memorabilia: 1.The best protection for your books, papers, photographs and prints is a "safe" environment: moderate temperature and relative humidity; clean air and good air circulation; no natural or fluorescent light; and good housekeeping. 2.Avoid powerful sources of heat, damp and pollution: don't store your valuable books, photos and paper in attics or basements, or near water sources like washing machines or bathrooms. Think about what's in the room above your heirlooms, too. 3.Heat causes damage. Don't hang valuable objects over radiators, heat-producing appliances or the fireplace. Books you want to read twenty years from now shouldn't be shelved on the mantel, the window sill or the radiator. 4.Light causes fading and other damage. Keep photos and art (prints, watercolors and other works on paper) in the dark as much as possible. Don't put valuable books and papers where they'll get direct sun or bright light of any kind. Hallways or other rooms without windows are best. Install and use shades and heavy curtains where you can't avoid windows. 5.Use a museum-quality mat and frame to display any valuable photo or artwork -- even children's drawings. Indoor pollution is a growing problem in energy-conscious spaces with good insulation, and causes rapid damage to paper. The glass or plastic glazing of a frame will keep pollutants and dirt away, and edges will not be damaged by handling or tacks. 6.If you want your wedding pictures (or photos of any event) to last for your grandchildren, have the photographer take a roll of black-and-white photos. Video, color slide and most color prints have a limited life-expectancy. 7.If you want to keep a clipping from the newspaper for the long-term, have it photocopied onto buffered paper (e.g. Eucasta Waylite, Crane Weston Xerographic, or Howard Permalife). The copy will outlive the original. 8.Letters, clippings and other documents you want to preserve should be stored unfolded in buffered folders. Folding and unfolding breaks paper along fold lines. Standard office manila folders are a source of acids, and envelopes can cause damage as items are removed and replaced. If you can't find buffered folders, use a sheet of buffered paper at the front and back of the folder. 9.When storing photos in an album, use "photo" or mounting corners (available from photography suppliers or stamp dealers), not self-sealing plastic (which can stick to or react with your pictures). Choose a photo album with neutral (pH 7.0-7.5), good-quality paper and or polyester, polypropylene or polyethylene pages -- not vinyl or PVC. 10.To remove the musty smell from old books, make sure they are dry. Put them in a cool, dry space for a couple of hours. If the musty smell remains, put them in an open container (e.g. clean, dry garbage pail or box) inside a larger, closed container (e.g. clean, dry garbage pail, box, polyethylene bag) with an open box of baking soda, or a potpourri. Do not allow the de-odorizer to touch the books. Leave for a few days in a cool place, checking once a day to make sure no mold is growing. 11.To remove staples or old paper clips from documents (especially if they're rusty) slide a piece of stiff plastic (e.g. polyester, polypropylene) under the fastener on both sides of the document. Slide the paper clip off the plastic, or use a pair of tweezers or a thin knife to bend the edges of the staples up and pry it out. The plastic will protect the paper from abrasion and from damage by your tools. Staple pullers tear the paper.