3 Easy Steps for Preserving Old Newspapers and Magazines

To preserve your old newspapers, first unfold the newspaper so that the front page is displayed, cover it with acid-free tissue and use a storage box to keep the wrapped newspaper. For magazines, you need to sort the pages, use corrugated cardboard as backing and store the magazine in a plastic sleeve.

Newspaper and magazines are rich sources of information. There are times when these publications feature historical events or interesting stories of famous people, and you may want to save these articles as keepsakes. To do so, you need to preserve the periodicals so that they retain their legible form. Using durable supplies like plastic sleeves could save old periodicals and help them last for years. Here are some of the steps you can follow:

For old newspapers:

* Unfold the newspaper so that the front page is displayed

To preserve a newspaper, you should unfold it so that the front page is displayed and you will not have to turn over the pages. Lay it flat over a solid and smooth surface such as a table. You will be storing the publication in this manner so that you can easily see important details about the newspaper, such as the publication date, headlines in that issue and other information. If you store the newspaper folded, the creases will eventually tear apart.

* Cover it with acid-free tissue

You should now use acid-free tissue paper to cover the newspaper. This material can be purchased at arts and crafts shops or at school and office supplies stores. Ensure that the whole newspaper is covered by the tissue paper. Once you are done wrapping the newspaper, seal the newspaper inside the tissue using archival tape. The archival tape will also keep the acid-free tissue in place. Leave one side open for airflow.

* Use a storage box to keep the wrapped newspaper

Buy or look for a storage box that has a depth of not more than 10 inches. You will be storing the wrapped newspaper in it. Before you purchase a box, take the measurements of the newspaper you are preserving and record it for reference when you are shopping for a box. Carefully place the newspaper into the box and replace the cover. Place the box in a dry and cool area where it is not exposed to direct sunlight or any harmful elements.

For old magazines:

* Sort the pages

Sort the pages of the magazine by separating the articles with acid-free tissue. You can also slip the acid-free tissue in between the pages so that the appearance of the page is preserved.

* Use corrugated cardboard as backing

Support the magazine’s back portion with corrugated cardboard. This will also maintain the flatness of the magazine.

* Store the magazine in a plastic sleeve

Slip the magazine and the cardboard backing into a plastic sleeve. Plastic sleeves will effectively keep contents dry and free from dust. They are available in a wide range of sizes and can be purchased from arts and crafts supplies store and on the Internet.

Make sure you store magazines and newspapers in a place where they will not be directly exposed to sunlight and moisture. Sunlight can fade the colors and text on the pages while moisture can cause mold growth.