Use flat cotton tape to tie loose materials together or to temporarily stabilize bindings. Rubber bands crush fragile paper and board, and as the age, can leave behind stains and gummy residue. Route damaged materials to preservation staff. Household tapes and glues are a quick fix but can do considerable damage over time. Use paper flags to mark pages during processing.
Sticky notes leave adhesive residue that attracts dirt, and paper clips crimp and tear.
Even plain paper inserts can be damaging if there are too many of them. Bring damp, wet, and moldy materials to preservation staff promptly. The sooner such problems are addressed, the more likely the materials can be salvaged successfully. Environmental Management Keep library collections clean, cool, and dry, and minimize exposure to light, in order to slow the chemical processes that cause paper, cloth, leather, plastics, and other materials to decay. Forcing books flat can break bindings and tear pages.