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Most people have heard the terms vellum and parchment, but few know that these writing surfaces were originally made of animal skin. Parchment was originally any animal skin that had been readied for writing, while vellum referred specifically to “paper” made from calfskin. (Calf in Latin is vitulus.) Just as calfskin leather is categorized as a superior form of leather, vellum is the highest quality of parchment. Some steps in leather and parchment/vellum preparation are the same (removing hair, for instance), while others are unique. Leather is tanned and limed, while parchment is just limed. This means parchment often reacts to changes in humidity and is not waterproof. Business disaster recovery companies must be cognizant of these properties when providing parchment and vellum document restoration, as explained below.

Some things just go together – peanut butter and jelly, bacon and eggs, and cookies and milk, for instance. Of course, there are also less tasty pairings, such as water damage and mold. Damaged records can easily become more damaged if they are left in a moist area where mold can thrive.

When restoring water damaged documents, including damaged books, freezing is your first priority. Air drying works for smaller quantities of books that haven’t seen extensive damage, but many libraries and historical societies lack the facilities for proper drying. In this situation, freezing within 24 hours – ideally, blast freezing – is best to halt the damage in its tracks. You’ll need to arrange a space for drying or freezing; don’t move damaged books until that restoration location is prepared. Have your supplies all laid out:

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.

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.