Two temperature and humidity-controlled storage vaults totaling over 1,300 square feet of floor space preserve the holdings of the Archives. Environmental controls are linked directly to sensors that notify Physical Plant engineers of malfunctions. A fire suppression system further protects the two areas.
In 1996 the Archives installed new compact shelving to house the collections in the main vault. The electronically-driven shelving holds all of the recordings in about half of the space previously consumed, thus allowing room for growth and processing. Each carriage of shelves was constructed to hold a specific recording media, whether cylinders, tapes, or discs. One carriage contains units of drawers in three sizes--for video, cassette, and compact disc storage. These are the most likely areas for expansion, so the most room for collection growth is available here.
The shelving alleviates a space shortage and allows for uniform and proper shelving of materials for greater safety. The unit can be sealed with a rubber gasket, thus keeping light and dust out. It also has a special programming feature that allows the aisles to open periodically during the night, thereby reducing the potential for mold and mildew to take hold.
