The extensive images collection from a wide range of sources has been deteriorating because of the atmosphere in which they have been stored and the Waitaki District Council this week approved the use of up to $6000 in special funds to preserve them.
They range from early photographs through to collections from The Oamaru Mail, Oamaru commercial photographers and individuals.
They are stored in two walk-in safes on the ground and mezzanine floors of the museum. Both safes have a strong smell caused by negatives deteriorating.
The issue arose earlier this year in a report by North Otago Museum and Archives director Rowan Carroll and worried councillors so much they asked her for further information and held a workshop to look at solutions.
In a report to the council on Monday, curator Chloe Searle said short-term solutions were found to stop the deterioration of the photographs and negatives, which were gradually being digitised.
Any unwanted images were being disposed of according to museum and archive guidelines.
It was important the images were moved from their present environment to a more suitable archive area. Because many had been in the same environment for 20 years or more, this would have to be done slowly and may take a year or more to complete, she said.
The first step would be to alter the environment by installing dehumidifiers and gradually reducing the temperature until it was stable.
The temperature and humidity in the archives mezzanine, where the images would eventually be stored, would also have to be altered.
Once that was completed and the appropriate storage atmosphere attained, the photographs and negatives would then be shifted.
This would be the most cost-effective and efficient way of stopping the deterioration, Miss Searle said.
