One aspect of organizing that I would like to address is how to store 3-ring binders. Now, this may seem like a very simple idea and you might be thinking "Everyone knows how to store 3-ring binders", but do you?
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| Family Genealogy Binders, Houston County, TN. Archives |
If you use 3-ring binders to organize your genealogical records, do you store them upright on the shelf or do you lay them down on their side? Most of you will say that you store them upright because it takes up less room and that is the conventional way to store 3-ring binders.
However, the best way to store them so that the records that are contained in them do not get damaged is to store them laying on their side.
When you store 3-ring binders upright or on their end, it puts pressure on the binding and weakens the strength of that binding. Over time, those binders will become weak and will start to sag and eventually will start to break down. Also, when 3-ring binders are stored upright, the pages that are stored inside will sag. This means that if you have put your genealogy documents into these 3-ring binders, they will also sag and could get damaged by being put in this position for a prolonged period of time.
The best way to store 3-ring binders is on their side, making sure all the pages are laying flat and not folded or bent in anyway.
Storing 3-ring binders in this manner will take up more room but in the long run it will keep your family genealogical records safe.
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Can you store them on top of each other?
ReplyDeleteYes you can, however, I wouldn't put too many in one stack as they could collapse onto each other. I would think 3-4 would be a good number to stack on top of each other.
DeleteHmm, I heard that binders are not good for storing since they give off some kind of chemical that is bad for the papers. Our local archives required us to get rid of all the binders. Maybe it depends on the binders? The ones we had look just like the ones in your photos.
ReplyDeleteIt would be ideal if archival binders were used. They can be purchased on any online archival store.
DeleteI use document protectors (acid free) to store my documents in the binders.
ReplyDeleteGreat to Hear and a Great Idea!
DeleteThanks for the information. I use acid free protectors also.
ReplyDeleteFantastic!
DeleteI can see where it would be a good idea to lay them flat but it takes up a lot of space (I have over 50 2" three ring binders for my genealogical work.
ReplyDeleteYes, it does take up more space but helps to protect original records.
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