Phase-box
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English
noun
The origin of the term 'phase box' can probably be traced to Peter Water's 1998 BPG Annual article about the phased conservation concept and program started by the Library of Congress in the 1970's:
- "The term phased conservation was first introduced by the Conservation Office of the Library of Congress during the mid-seventies. Throughout this period the word phased was being used throughout the library—to phase in and out, a phased plan for this and that, phased managements strategies, and so forth.
- ....
- One of the first collections responded to by our phased approach was the European Law collection consisting of thousands of volumes bound mostly in vellum and leather. Most were in such a dilapidated state that every morning one could move along the rows of volumes and sweep up fragments. This was a condition caused by neglect and physical wear-and-tear on the shelves. We eventually boxed this entire collection and made some attempt to estimate and record future treatments. The box design used became known as the phased box. These are not really boxes but wrapper cases which were designed to be used on dormant, rare and fragile collections only. Its utilitarian design is based on the traditional Japanese/Chinese wrapper cases where book volumes have Oriental stab-sewn bindings without stiff covers." <ref name="Waters">Waters, Peter. "Phased conservation." The Book and Paper Group Annual: volume 17. AIC. Book and Paper Group, 1998. 113-122.</ref>
Many libraries have adopted the use of phase boxes as a permanent housing solution, particularly for fragile or damaged items that will not be prioritized for conservation treatment because of their expected low use, duplicate status, the presence of a digital surrogate online, or other factors.
There are many different ways of making a phase box, with variations in the type of closure method, materials used, and construction. The terms ' four flap wrapper' or 'tuxedo wrapper' have sometimes been used interchangeably with 'phase box'.
Below are some links to tutorials for how to make different types of phase boxes.
Instructions for Making Phase Boxes
- A phase box made from one single piece of board, with a a tab and slot closure. It can be made from corrugated board, or 40-pt, 20-pt, or 10-pt board. Uppsala University Library has posted a video of the construction process on YouTube.
- "The type we make is constructed from two pieces of gray/white board. The box is of a 4-flap design that lays out flat on a table when opened, in which state it assumes the shape of a cross." This design has a string and washer closure on the fore-edge of the box.
- Made from two pieces of 20pt folder stock glued together, with a tab and slot closure.
- Phase Box. Syracuse University Libraries. Department of Preservation and Conservation, "Phase Box" (2011). Libraries' and Librarians' Publications. Paper 55.
- Uses two pieces of folder stock, with an envelope style flap that tucks into the body of the box.
- "Card Box" and "Phase Boxes": chapters from "Boxes for the Protection of Books: Their Design And Construction". Brown, Margaret R. Boxes for the protection of rare books, Margaret R Brown, Lage Carlson, and Library of Congress. Preservation Directorate. Boxes for the Protection of Books: Their Design And Construction. Washington: Preservation Directorate, Collections Services, Library of Congress , 1994.
- Has instructions for various types of phase boxes and a 'card box' (which is a four-flap style wrapper), including ones made from one piece of board, and others made from two pieces of board.
- tuxedo box
- four-flap wrapper
Translations
Italian: (translation needed)
