The Moldy Notebook – Happy, Excited that Rain Leads to Urgent Diary Preservation

Have you ever considered preserving a diary or notebook despite water damage and molding?

A notebook from my first months as a librarian at NYPL was left in the bottom pocket of our stroller during a rainstorm. It began to show black spots, presumably mold. My first instinct was to chuck it.

That instinct stems from when I worked at the Rye Free Reading Room as a children’s librarian. Hurricane Ida caused the brook to flood next to the children’s room. Water levels caused damage to more than 20% of our collection.

On the topic of diary preservation, Bing says,

When it comes to preserving diaries, it is important to follow archival best practices to ensure their longevity. If a diary gets wet, it is recommended to freeze it immediately to prevent further damage 1. Freezing will help prevent mold growth and buy time until the diary can be properly treated 1.
If the diary has black spots, it could be a sign of mold growth. Mold can cause significant damage to paper-based materials and should be treated as soon as possible 2. It is recommended to isolate the diary from other materials and consult a professional conservator for treatment options 2.
It is not recommended to throw away diaries that have been damaged. Even if they are not salvageable, they can still provide valuable information about the past and should be preserved for future generations 3.

I question whether I have freezer space to spare for diary preservation. The notebook in question is currently sealed in a ziploc bag and shelved beside the rest of my diaries and journals. I am thinking about digitizing the pages and providing context as I am able. Is Omeka still a free and good option for digitized diary pages? Will themes, motifs, or an outline emerge as I review the material? If not… I like this article about 9 Ways to Dispose of a Journal.

Bonfire, anyone?

I have long-harbored a desire to turn my notebooks into something cohesive, meaningful, and polished. That’s the best outcome of diary preservation. Can I follow through on writing something as polished as a book?

ChatGPT says I can write a book so it must be true.

1. Review Your Diaries: Start by going through your old diaries and identifying passages, anecdotes, or experiences that you want to include in your book. Pay attention to any themes or recurring motifs that emerge.
2. Organize Your Material: Categorize and organize the diary entries into themes or chronological order, depending on how you plan to use them in your book.
3. Create an Outline: Develop an outline for your book, including chapters or sections that align with the themes or chronological periods you’ve identified from your diaries.
4. Blend Old and New: As you write your book, seamlessly integrate the diary entries into the narrative. You can do this by incorporating them into the text, using them as epigraphs at the beginning of chapters, or even creating sections of the book that are entirely composed of diary entries. Good thing you’re a diary preservation pro!
5. Provide Context: When using diary entries, make sure to provide context for the reader, especially if the entries are from a different time or place. Explain who you were at that time, what was happening in your life, and why the particular diary entry is relevant to the story.
6. Edit and Rewrite: Don’t be afraid to edit and rewrite the diary entries to fit the style and voice of your book. You can enhance them for readability and coherence.
7. Maintain Consistency: Ensure that the tone and style of your book remain consistent throughout, even when integrating diary entries.
8. Seek Feedback: Share your work with beta readers or critique partners to get feedback on how well the diary entries enhance the narrative.
9. Legal Considerations: If your diaries contain sensitive or personal information about others, be mindful of privacy and legal considerations. You may need to obtain permission or make changes to protect people’s identities.
10. Enjoy the Process: Writing a book based on your diaries can be a deeply personal and rewarding experience. Embrace the journey and allow your unique voice and experiences to shine through.

Bonfire or book? Choose your adventure.