Poor storage conditions can cause tape to deform as well. However, polyester is an extremely resilient material and can usually be returned to its original shape by a person knowledgeable in the restoration procedure known as "baking."

First, the tape should be fast forwarded to the end. Then it should be rewound to the start and played to the end. Carefully observe how the tape is packed on the take-up hub. If the pack is flat, then it can be baked. If the tape pack is not flat after playing it, rewind it again and play it on another tape recorder. The tape may pack correctly on the second tape recorder.

Use

• Handle only the cassette casings, never the tape surfaces.
• Buy good quality audio- and videotapes -- they're thicker and stronger. Record videotapes at standard speed (SP rather than EP) for better images. Break off the tab on a videocassette to prevent accidentally recording over important moments.
• Insert and eject tapes at blank points, and pause them as little as possible. When you're done, rewind the tape and remove it from the tape player right away.
• Avoid playing valuable tapes on unfamiliar or suspect equipment.

Storage

• Keep tapes away from sources of magnetic fields -- electric lines, fluorescent lights, electric motors, and magnets.
• Store reels and cassettes on end, like books, in labeled, hard-plastic containers. Keep them in cool, dry areas, away from dust and direct sunlight.

Care

• Make extra copies of valuable tapes and store them in a safe deposit box, or with a friend or relative.
• Read the manuals for your audiocassette player and VCR to learn about proper operation and routine maintenance. Clean the recording heads on schedule and use dust covers on your equipment.
• Sometimes video playback is poor despite attempts to adjust the tracking control. This problem can often be corrected by cleaning the tape guides and adjusting the tape tension. Other times playing the tape on another machine resolves this problem.

Glossary

acid-free tissue - In the course of time most tissue paper will become acidic and brittle with age. The acidity will transfer to adjacent objects causing these objects to become weaker and possibly discolored. Acid free tissue papers are specially processed to remove such contaminants. An 18 pound weight paper is useful for quilts, coverlets, and the storage of other flat textiles. For stuffing or interleaving, a lighter 12 pound paper is better. This lighter acid free paper is also known as "laminating tissue."

conservator - persons who periodically examine objects, document their condition, and, if necessary, treat and repair them to protect collections over time.
For more information or to locate a professional conservator, visit The American Institute for Conservation of Historic & Artistic Works.

muslin - a thin plain-weave cotton cloth used for curtains, sheets, and dresses

PAT test (photographic activity test) - a test that predicts possible interactions between photographic images and the enclosures in which they are stored. Boxes or other types of enclosures that hold several images, even if those images are in envelopes or sleeves, should be tested too. Many of the harmful chemicals in poor-quality enclosures can become airborne and, over time, work their way to the photograph.

PVC pipe - a lightweight, durable, and waterproof plastic pipe used for plumbing

polyethylene bags - flexible, extremely tough, and chemical-resistant plastic bags commonly used as sandwich or freezer storage

ragboard - board made from cotton and contains no wood (lignins). Little pulping or purification is required because cotton is the purest natural form of cellulose. Rag board is also called Museum Board, is acid-free and meets the standards set by the Library of Congress for museum quality matboard. It is available with or without buffering.

unbuffered - containing neither alkaline nor acid