Access and Handling
Staples and clips can catch on folders, enclosures, or neighboring documents, leading to accidental tears when materials are pulled from boxes.
Physical Preservation
Metal fasteners corrode, causing rust stains that discolor paper and can eventually weaken or eat into the fibers.
Corroded or bent fasteners can fuse pages together, making separation difficult and increasing the risk of tears when pages are pulled apart.
Removing staples and paperclips matters because metal and rubber fasteners can actively damage records over time and interfere with safe handling, storage, and digitization.
Metal fasteners corrode, causing rust stains that discolor paper and can eventually weaken or eat into the fibers and cause very serious damage.
