Environmental Monitor Loan Program

Regular monitoring of temperature and relative humidity in all areas where archival records are stored and used is a fundamental preservation activity. Extreme fluctuations in environmental conditions can result in serious deterioration of archival records. To support this important preservation function, the Archives Association of Ontario provides a complementary environmental monitor loan program to its institutional members.

Institutional members can request the loan of a data logger for a few months at no cost to the member. The duration of the loan is a minimum of three months. Longer loan periods may be negotiated subject to availability of a unit. At the end of the loan period, the logger is returned to the AAO to download the recorded data using the logger’s software program. A report is sent to the borrower showing the temperature and relative humidity readings that were recorded with recommendations and advice on any remedial actions that may be required to improve the environment.