Preserving Rolled Maps and Plans for the Future
ROLLING WITH
A
t the end of 2019, as we began to prepare to pack and move, I was tasked with creating a strategy to rehouse the various collections of rolled maps, architectural plans and technical drawings stored on site at the BC Archives. This was no simple feat, since the archives have more than 4,000 rolled maps and plans. I’m the archives collections manager, so finding or creating the appropriate housing for records is a large part of my job. When considering housing options for records, there are often challenges such as unusual sizes and formats, different material compositions, and the condition of the records. All these elements are involved in choosing the best housing. One of the biggest challenges when housing maps and plans is usually size. Best practice for storing maps is to store them flat in folders in map cabinet drawers. But sometimes the best practice just isn’t realistic, especially when you factor in available space, budget and resources. Given the number of rolled plans we have, it was important for me to prioritize so I didn’t get completely overwhelmed. I decided to focus on plans that were already at risk due to their tight quarters—the ones rolled and stored in long narrow wooden drawers or cubby holes. Then, to narrow my focus even further, I chose one collection—the Ocean Falls series GR-3337: Engineering Office plans and technical drawings. (You can read the description for the collection at search-bcarchives. royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/engineering-office-plans-and-technical-drawings.)
