On Arrival: New collections are initially assessed and recorded into the Accessions Register. They will then be sorted into different types of material and await processing.

Paper Collections: Paper collections include books and other types of bound material and loose papers. All the material is first described and then entered onto our database.

Books: Books have a card tag made, recording their details and location, and they are then placed in an archival box, ready to go onto the shelves.

Papers: Papers require a little more processing. Staples, pins and other fastenings that might corrode need to be removed. Loose papers are grouped together and placed within folders made from acid-free archival card. The folders then go into an archival box before being placed on the shelves.

Plans: Plans for churches and other buildings are placed in sleeves constructed onsite from acid-free card and mylar plastic. They are stored lying flat in the map drawers.

Photographs: We will usually remove photographs from the albums that they arrive in, as many modern albums are unsuitable for long-term storage. We record any information relating to the photographs and then place them into new albums.

Storage: Once photographs have been described, and the information recorded onto our photograph database, the album is boxed and placed in the Photographic Collection, which is kept in the Photo Safe.