The documents held at Dorset History Centre are protected through conservation measures and specialist preservation activities.
Physical environment
Documents need to be kept free from the threats of vermin, fire and theft. Dorset History Centre is fortunate in having purpose-built accommodation, which limits the risk of disaster such as fire causing any damage to the documents.
Dorset History Centre has become one of the first institutions of its kind to move to a largely passive air-handling system. This innovative approach maximises the use of natural sources of heating, cooling and ventilation to create a controlled environment in a more sustainable way.
By making effective use of thermal mass, increasing the air tightness of the structure of the building, and replacing air conditioning systems with a conservation heating approach Dorset History Centre provides the optimum temperature and humidity levels necessary to ensure the long-term survival of the archives
Treating documents
Some documents held at Dorset History Centre have been damaged by mould, vermin, poor storage or other problems in the past, and need specialist care if they are to survive. Our skilled Conservator is able to treat records which have been damaged, enabling them to be available for public use and ensuring their long-term survival.
Conservation work has largely focused on paper and parchment archives. We are now dealing with all sorts of new media archives, including film, sound and digital material.
