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Arguably, the cornerstone of safeguarding archives and collections lies in prevention, which makes understanding potential threats crucial. This is why The Canadian Museum of Nature and the Canadian Conservation Institute have compiled a list of the top 10 agents of deterioration, identifying the primary hazards to historical objects. This compilation aims to assist in preventing and protecting valuable collections, whether housed in museums or homes.

As the chill of winter sets in, businesses and organizations face unique challenges in protecting their valuable documents and archives. Learn about winter's risks to your documents and how to apply practical tips for safeguarding them.

A recent article in the New York Times “Floods, Fires and Humidity: How Climate Change Affects Book Preservation” discusses the affects of climate change on book preservation with the overall increase in natural disasters. Between flood, fires, and humidity, the possibilities for damage are constantly growing. Below, our subject matter expert, Matt DeCirce, discusses his point of view on how climate change affects he’s seeing and what Polygon is doing to help our clients prepare for the unexpected.

When the Cathedral Notre Dame in Paris experienced a near-catastrophic fire in April of 2019, it served as a stark reminder that important cultural documents and artifacts, such as original pieces of literature and priceless works of art, could be lost permanently in an instant. Even data preserved on hard drives at a university are potential casualties from an event such as a flood or fire in the server room. How likely is it that these crucial documents are at risk? And what should institutions do to build their facilities’ resiliency from both a proactive and reactive standpoint?

When wet or moldy books, papers, and files are damaged, they can be saved. If you are recovering from property damage and don’t know what to do with damaged papers or books, Polygon can help. As one of the country’s longest-serving providers for document recovery, Polygon has both the equipment and experienced staff to handle even the most severely damaged paper product. Moldy books, water-soaked files, photographs, or medical records, all of these items can be salvaged.