Commercial Services

Understand the collection, identify risks and decide what should happen first.

An assessment considers the types and quantity of material, its condition, storage and handling, and your priorities. It can guide a single project or a longer programme of care.

• Review the collection and the way it is kept.
• Identify damage, deterioration and practical risks.
• Set priorities for conservation, storage, documentation or digitisation.
• Prepare recommendations and a plan suited to your resources.

Care for original photographs, papers, manuscripts and books.

We examine materials before recommending treatment. The work depends on their condition, their construction and the damage or deterioration present.

• Examine and document the condition of the material.
• Discuss appropriate treatment and its limits.
• Carry out the agreed conservation work.
• Provide advice on handling and storage after treatment.

The treatment proposed and the records of work to be supplied are included in the agreed scope.

Improve how a collection is enclosed, arranged, handled and stored.

This service is useful when records are kept in unsuitable boxes, shelves are overcrowded, or a collection is being reorganised or moved.

• Review existing enclosures and storage arrangements.
• Recommend suitable folders, boxes and other protective housing.
• Advise on arrangement, labelling and safe handling.
• Identify environmental and housekeeping concerns.

Tell us about the materials and the space available. Recommendations are shaped around the collection and its storage needs.

Create digital copies with a clear connection to the originals.

We discuss the materials, their condition and how you intend to use the copies before agreeing an approach. Preparation and careful handling are part of the work.

• Review the originals and identify preparation needs.
• Agree the capture approach, file formats and outputs.
• Digitise the selected material.
• Name and organise files so they can be identified.
• Link files to the agreed descriptions or collection references.

The materials accepted and the files supplied are confirmed for each project.

Plan the care of sound recordings and moving-image collections.

Recordings can need different equipment and approaches according to their format and condition. An initial review establishes what work is appropriate.

• Identify formats and assess condition.
• Set priorities for preservation and digitisation.
• Plan and carry out agreed work for supported formats.
• Retain information about speakers, performers, creators, dates and places.
• Agree the organisation and handover of resulting digital files.

If you do not know a format’s name, describe the recording and its container as best you can.

Organise records so you can identify what you hold and find it again.

We help establish a consistent way to arrange and describe a collection, from a basic inventory to more detailed cataloguing.

• Review the collection and its existing lists.
• Develop an appropriate arrangement.
• Create inventories or catalogue descriptions within the agreed scope.
• Record names, dates, places, subjects and collection history where known.
• Assign consistent references linking records, containers and digital copies.

We agree the level of description and the format of the records you will receive before work begins.

Make a plan for the continuing care of digital records.

Digital files need organisation, storage, backups and people responsible for maintaining them. We help you define practical arrangements for that work.

• Review the digital records you hold and how they are managed.
• Develop file-naming and folder conventions.
• Identify the descriptions needed to understand and locate files.
• Consider file formats, storage and backup arrangements.
• Set responsibilities and review points for continuing care.

This service provides a plan for managing digital records. Any additional implementation work is agreed separately.

Develop the skills needed for everyday collection care.

Training is planned around your materials, staff responsibilities and experience. Tell us the tasks your team needs to carry out and where help is needed.

• Handling, storage and protective housing.
• Recognising risks and setting preservation priorities.
• Inventory, arrangement and documentation.
• Preparing collections for digitisation.
• Organising and caring for digital files.

We agree the topics, delivery arrangements and number of participants when planning the work.

Establish priorities for materials affected by damage.

We assess archives affected by water, fire, mould, pests or unsuitable storage and discuss what care may be appropriate.

• Review the types and extent of damage.
• Identify priorities for recovery and treatment.
• Plan appropriate conservation and preservation work.
• Advise on storage and care following an incident.

Tell us when the damage occurred and whether its cause is continuing. The support available depends on the materials and circumstances.

Fees depend on the type, quantity and condition of the materials, the services required and the agreed outputs. We discuss the scope before providing an estimate. Any assessment needed before the main work is costed will also be discussed.

No. A short description and an approximate quantity are enough for an initial enquiry. Tell us what you know and where you are unsure.

Yes. A project may combine assessment, documentation, conservation, storage advice, digitisation or training. We will agree the sequence and scope together.

Timing depends on the collection, its condition and the services required. Tell us about any deadline when you enquire. A schedule is discussed before work is agreed.

Describe the material as best you can. You do not need specialist terminology. We will discuss what further information or examination may be needed.

Yes. Collection donations are considered separately from commissioned services. Use our collection donation enquiry route to tell us what you would like to offer.