karen liebel wrote:

> It is my understanding watercolours are, especially, negatively
affected by light, so frequent flashes of brilliant light could be
destructive.

This is correct (at least in regards to watercolors vs. light). I gave a
watercolor as a gift to an elderly grandmother with the caution not to
hang it in direct sunlight, which she promptly did. The colors were
noticeably faded in a year, almost nonexistant after ten (a light wash).

Second item:
The Oregon Historical Society does not allow direct photocopying of
older ephemera in their research center--they lay down a thick sheet of
what I believe is plexiglass between the copying bed and the papers.
Apparently, they believe the plastic wedge is enough to break up the
harmful exposure of the copier's lamp.

If some one knows just what OHS is putting down (other than plexi) I'd
like to hear about it. I think the comments from the MSN employee were
far from the mark myself.

Regards,
John Phillips