Be careful when handling wet materials because they are very fragile. Fill cartons and crates three-quarters full. Keep identification labels with objects. To prevent further damage, do not pack materials in piles on the floor.
Single sheets: Do not try to separate, but interleave the folders every two inches with freezer paper and pack.
Maps and Manuscripts with Soluble Media: Do not blot the surface. Quickly freeze and dry.
Coated Papers: Keep wet by packing in boxes lined with garbage bags and then freeze.
Don’t open or close wet books or remove wet book covers. Lay a sheet of freezer paper around the cover, and pack spine down in a milk crate or cardboard carton.
Leather, parchment and vellum bindings are an immediate priority because they distort and disintegrate in water. Books with coated papers should be kept wet by packing inside boxes lined with garbage bags and then frozen.
Prints, negatives, transparencies: Salvage color photographs first, then prints, then black and white negatives and transparencies. If facilities and personnel are available, air dry. Pack and freeze if facilities and personnel are unavailable.
Roll Microforms: Do not remove the films from their boxes. Hold the cardboard boxes (and their labels) together with rubber bands. Fill the boxes with water and then wrap 5 boxes of film into a block with plastic wrap. Pack the blocks into a heavy-duty cardboard box lined with 3 garbage bags. Label as wet film and ship to a microfilm processor.
Diazo Microfiche, Aperture Cards, Film in Jackets: Pack, freeze and make arrangements to air dry.