PRESERVE PRINT MEDIA Once your physical photos and other memorabilia are digitized, it’s time to decide what to do with the physical images. When it comes to photos and video, some of my clients decide to chuck the physical stuff. As we’ll see next in preserving digital media, I recommend a triple backup process so that you will always have access. However, there are several good reasons for keeping your physical prints or other memorabilia. Sometimes the physical image, particularly if it’s old, has a special feel about it. Perhaps there are notes on the back and even though you can have the backs of the photos scanned, the personal handwriting on the physical photo may hold value to you. If you have the room to store them, I strongly encourage to preserve your memorabilia in its physical form. But here’s the thing - old shoeboxes in your basement or garage is not the way to store it! As mentioned earlier, physical photos and other memorabilia deteriorates when exposed to the environment. I recommend storage containers constructed with acid- and lignin-free materials and featuring a buffering agent to neutralize any migrant acid and atmospheric pollutants. These types of containers are not cheap, but if you’re going to keep your memorabilia, keep it safe and preserve it for future generations. They’re available in a variety of outlets or I can purchase them for you through my vendor partners. Feel free to schedule a free initial consultation if you need more specifics.
DIGITAL MEDIA When it comes to preserving your digital media, the three most important words are backup, backup, backup! Hard drives crash. Local backup files could be lost in a fire. And you may not be able to get online at a crucial time to access your files stored online. That’s why I recommend that you keep your files stored and backed up in three different places:
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