Rolling is probably the easiest solution if the map is adequately 
strong/flexible.  The larger the diameter, the less the stress.  Also keep 
your eyes open for used flat files (map cases) that are oversized.  They 
come up every once in a while.  You could have a standing order at the local 
used furniture or office equipment vendors.  I know someone who got just 
such an item recently for about 1/4 the original cost.  And since the paint 
is old, it has long ago stopped off-gassing (be sure the vendor doesn't 
spray it with new paint to make it look fresh!).

Marc

American Conservation Consortium, Ltd.
     4 Rockville Road
     Broad Brook, CT 06016
     www.conservator.com
     860-386-6058

*Collections Preservation Consultation
*Conservation Assessments & Surveys
*Low-Tech Environmental Control
*Moisture Management Solutions
*Collections in Historic Structures
*Conservation Treatment of:
     Furniture
     Painted Wood
     Horse-Drawn Vehicles
     Architectural Interiors

Marc A. Williams, President
     MS in Art Conservation, Winterthur Museum Program
     Former Chief Wooden Object Conservator, Smithsonian Institution
     Fellow, American Institute for Conservation (AIC)


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Amanda Thompson Dyer" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, March 23, 2007 1:32 PM
Subject: [MUSEUM-L] large map storage?


Hello All:

Does anyone have any helpful suggestions on how to store large format 2-D
materials? I'm specifically wondering about a map that is 5' x 3.5'. Being a
county history museum and not an art museum, the map  is larger than any of
our standard sized flat file cabinets and we can't afford any custom 
cabinets
for this purpose. And of course, being eternally crunched for space, we 
don't
really have horizontal space large enough to house a 5' map that isn't 
already
being used for something else. I've thought about rolling, as well as making
one fold to get the map in question in the flat file cabinet, but neither 
option
sounds that great to me. Any ideas?

I'm also wondering about how to store large maps of the pull-down variety,
that still have the wooden dowel attached at one or both ends. Should I 
store
them the same as above?

Thanks!
Amanda Thompson Dyer
Curator
Bell County Museum

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