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Every business, school, nonprofit, and government agency in the United States is required to retain certain records to satisfy industry, legal, and regulatory requirements. The types of records marked for storage can be diverse. Some companies hold onto every customer correspondence, employee email, and social media post. Their list may also include television commercials, radio spots, and digital banner ads. Some information is kept on file for years; other information is stored permanently.

Remember the scene at the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark when the priceless artifact Indiana Jones has been fighting to preserve is wheeled into storage in a yawning warehouse? Schools and universities often have similar storage areas for their “treasures” – i.e., their academic records. Raiders of the Lost Ark ends with the implication that the ark will probably never see the light of day again, but the opposite is true for school records. Schools must be able to provide students’ records on request at any time, even decades after a diploma has been granted.

Over the last few years, flooding has increased enough to spur scientists in the Northeast and elsewhere to ask if this paradigm is the “new normal.” Government officials, engineers and insurance companies are vested in this query, as its answer determines how they will need carry out their duties. Moreover, residents of zones that were previously considered dry havens are now advised to purchase flood insurance. And, of course, businesses are struggling with how to protect their assets, including crucial documents, from flooding.

Looking at a row of framed family portraits or framed certificates hung on the wall, it’s easy to assume those precious items are safe from damage. Certainly, framing documents and photographs protects them to some degree from fading, dust, and other forms of damage. However, even archival-quality framing can’t protect prized documents from water damage. If a flood, broken pipe, or excessive humidity has damaged your documents or photographs, read on for our primer on how to dry wet documents and pictures that are framed.

Isn’t it interesting how some relics of popular culture fall out of fashion, while others enjoy continued popularity among retro enthusiasts? Old 8-track tapes, for instance, are basically worthless, while vinyl record collections can retain their value for decades. Vinyl LPs can even gain value as time goes by – assuming, of course, they’re in good condition.