What a Difference a Move Makes

When the National Archives at St. Louis National Personnel Records Center moved into its new building, we did it for the records.

NARA monitors temperature and relative humidity throughout our buildings with electronic dataloggers called Preservation Environment Monitors, or PEMs. The PEMs constantly gather temperature and humidity readings, which we collect and evaluate. The data can alert us to problems with our HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems before they become serious.

The first graph is from our old building on Page Avenue. The second graph is from one of Archives Drive’s archival bays. Notice how often the PEM recorded temperatures at Page Avenue that were above 100° F and humidity levels that were above 60%.  Under NARA Directive 1571 the proper temperature and humidity for archival records is 65°F/35% (±5%).

So, the move made not only the employees but our holdings much happier.

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    Sometimes you move for better schools or an easier commute, but when
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