The evening herald. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1906-1942, 1921-08-15
solve PROBLEM
0F PRESERVING
OLD MEWSF|LES

problem OF preserving for posterlty
important Newspaper files which.
since wood pulp superseded RAGS In
the manufacture Of newsprint. has
baffled librarians all over the
world. at last apparently has been
solved BY officials OF the New York
public library.
After seven years OF experiments
ton. backed by the cooperation OF
three daily papers each Of which
has spent $4,000 . year to find the
best preservative method, the Off
eials believe they have discovered
the correct solution. that OF mount
ting each newspaper sheet between
two sheets Of thin japanese tissue.
This shuts the original sheet
from the air, reduces its legibility
but slightly. Strengthens the page
and permits It's free handling with
out danger OF disintegration.
A almost everyone knows. the
newspapes Of SO years ago were
printed on rag stock and were tough
and durable. You see them In the
libraries almost in ~ good condi-
ton - the day they were printed.
Not % with the journals printed
since the 7o's and sos OF the past
century. according to Harry N. Ly-
dsnberg. chief reference librarian In
New York public library. Wood pulp
paper becomes yellow and brittle at
ter exposure. he said.
Bound volumes treated BY tho new
process have been In daily uso ut
the library for some time and are
free from the marka Of wear and
tear shown BY less fortunate con-
tsmponries.
The library has . regular depart
ment for the treating Of newspaper
files Of three New York dsiiies- With
the aid Of recently perfected mechsn-
icai equipment II prepares the papers
st . cost Of about 335 to $40 a
bound volume, which Ii paid for by |
the publishers in order that their
papsss may be preserved in the "
brsry archives.
The tissue paper used In the pro-
eess 10 imported from Japan where
Il 10 made BY hand. II 10 applied with
ries paste. and adds OILY one
Of an inch to an individ-
aal sheet. making . volume about
,as inch thicker than II would be
''The paper problem IL acute only
N the case Of papers printed on
ground pulp stock" continued Mr..
Lydsnberg.
''Papers of the present period are
,srtain Of complete disintegration
vithin . short time. Paper makers
,ould make better stock II the prA-
urs for speed was not 80 great and
more time could be taken TO wash
he chlorine and other bleaching ele-
nents from the pulp. But makers
nust keep their cost down and that
lsuslly means q weakening Of quail
ty."
Mr.. LydenberE said that extensive
apartments with chemical solutions
ut on new stock by spray or brush
I'd failed because NO chemical treat
lent would patch up torn sheets nor
II in broken spots. The use of chif-
IN. or thin hight silk. also failed /:
, como up to the tests made with
10 japanese paper.
Experiments are being continued
the library. Mr.. Lydenberg said.
ith the hope that some still bet N
y process Of preservation may be
'und. He said experiments also we're
siug made with an American Ian
Isetursd tissue paper. III
we may also use this method to
reserve old books" he added. "as
win work out the same there as Il
18th the newspaper"
The New York method. Mr.. Ly-
'nberg said. is now used by Chi.
80 Newspaper"
EAR BRUARIELD
NRnNy IIX