On Apr 23, 2009, at 12:00 AM, RECMGMT-L automatic digest system wrote:

> From: Meg Carpenter <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: April 22, 2009 4:08:30 PM EDT
> Subject: protective disc skins
>
>
> I had a question posed to me about the value of using protective  
> disc skins.
> Since I had not seen anything about these until today, I was  
> wondering if
> anyone has any experience with these? Seems like they are readily  
> available
> and not all that expensive. But how do they affect the disc itself  
> short term
> and long term?
>
> Meg Carpenter, CRM, ERMm
> Records Manager
> Texas A&M University
> [log in to unmask]

Meg,  I must first warn you that I am a Longhorn so take what I say as  
any Aggie would.........

I think the people who make disc skins often think in terms of just  
handling. You never see any reports about what effects the chemicals  
in the plastic might have. Many of these are made in a country where  
they think putting road paint and melamine in baby formula is  
acceptable. Some of the materials they use are more harmful than  
helpful.

Anything that keeps the disc from hitting the floor directly is good.   
If they are made black so they shield them from light that is also  
great. Some have center hubs that wear the center ring over time if  
the disk is used repeatedly. I have seen disk crack from trying to pry  
them off these hubs.

If it is a paper sleeve, is is acid free. No one ever talks about the  
chemicals in these units so who knows.  Maybe somewhere on the  
Internet there is a company who makes sleeves and skins that really  
take things into consideration.

Bacteria can have a negative effect on the discs so what is your  
protocol on that if you are handling them all the time.  Is the room  
they are stored in designed to keep mold and mildew from building up.  
Use an antibacterial hand cleaner if you will be handling discs and  
you will extend their life.

Notice how I did not use any Aggie jokes in the writing of this  
email.  Hook 'em Horns! Gig 'em!

Hugh Smith
FIRELOCK Fireproof Modular Vaults
[log in to unmask]
(610)  756-4440    Fax (610)  756-4134
WWW.FIRELOCK.COM

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