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After yesterday's Supercollectors segment about digital audio storage, our listener Matt emailed us to ask us a question of a very analog nature. 

 I have a record collection of many "virgin" (i.e. unplayed, in the wrapper vinyl) records. These records have a value for collectors, as they are mostly Audio Fidelity (which produced the first stereo record in 1957).  My wife is the daughter of the founder, Sidney Frey.  Therefore opening them and digitizing them is not an option at this point.  What is the best way to store them?

Don Fleming, executive director of the Alan Lomax Archive, knows a thing or two about managing a huge music collection. We sent him Matt's email -- and here's Don's response:

The basic idea with LPs is to store them vertically in a place with low light (sunlight fades the covers), steady temperature (away from heat sources), and low humidity (in a room with a dehumidifier if possible). The original wrappers may start shrinking, and bending the covers, and if so should be replaced with 4 mil museum grade archival polyester sleeves. Then put them in 12" record storage boxes with Archival barrier board.

That said, the most interesting thing about the collection is that they belonged to Sidney Frey. To an archive, it would be much more historically important and more valuable if you have letters, paperwork or photos that are associated to Audio Fidelity, or Frey's other labels, or anything associated with the bossa nova concert that he staged at Carnegie Hall in 1962.