Hi everyone,
I wrote a grant application this spring and was awarded $1,500 to spend
on preserving our town's historic artifacts. I included metal shelving in
the application but have since been given a donation of shelving. Trouble
is, there's a bit of rust on most of the shelves. 

Is this going to be a problem for the shelves that I will be setting acid
free boxes on? How about if I want to set a larger artifact on a shelf
(say, something leather or wood)? Should I protect the item by putting
cotton sheeting between it and the shelf or should I reject the rusty
shelving altogether and buy new ones?

Excuse my continued ignorance...I'm a volunteer and doing the best I can!
The information you all have provided so far has probably saved our
collection! 

Thanks for your advice,
Nancy R.
non-professional volunteer historian in a mostly apathetic community  

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