🔎Identification and Handling Guidance

Identification

Use the graphic below to help identify the main types of digital removable media you may come across.

Handling

For general advice on handling guidance, see Conservation and Collections Care guidance.

Floppy Disks and Iomega zip disks

• Don't flick open the caddy or touch the disk surface.

• Before inserting a floppy disk into a reader, ensure write-protection is on.

Digital Audio Tape (DAT)

• Magnetic tape cartridges must not be opened, nor the tape surface touched.

Film and Audio Reels

• Reels should only be handled either within their cases, or by the hub.

• If the tape is loose, the surface may only be touched wearing gloves.

CDs and DVDs

• Discs should only be handled by the extreme edges or the centre hole, and the recording surface must not be touched.

• Discs may be marked on the upper surface using a soft tipped pen with water-soluble, permanent ink.

• If there are any smudges on the surface, clean the disc using a microfibre cloth dipped in a small amount of water and move in straight strokes from the centre to the edge working your way around the disc. Avoid touching the very centre of the disc where the groves visibly move in a different direction.

USBs

• Media should only be held by the extreme edges: the gold contacts must not be touched.