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Thank you for your many Emails on this matter. Here is a summary of the current state of play according to the Email replies: 1. PIRA International (Printing Industry Regulation Authority) of Leatherhead seems to be the authority on this subject. Laser inks are generally long lasting because of their pigment base. They should be stored below 40 degrees C and of course should not be stored in PVC files. Both these conditions soften the toner. For ink jet inks more caution is needed but the ink has improved in the last 5 years in degree of permanence. The British Library's Information Officer suggests that people contact specific computer ink manufacturers to ask if any tests have been carried out. PIRA International is a commercial organisation and so the amount of free information is limited. 2. Articles of interest include: 'An investigation into the archival properties of colour photocopies and inkjet prints- Summary of a project undertaken at Camberwell College of Art as part of a BA in Paper Conservation, Spring 1996' by Anna Hillcoat-Imanishi, V&A Conservation Journal, January 1999 no 30, ISSN 0967-2273 'Conservation Considerations With The Acquisition of Computer Generated Works of Art on Paper' by H. Norville -Day and Shulla Jacques, from the IPC/Society of Archivist's Conference: Care of Photographic, Moving Image and Sound Collections, 1998, York, Abstracts 'Conservation Implications of Computer-Generated Printing' by C Orlenko and E Stewart, from Institute of Paper Conservation Conference Paper, London 1997 pp166-175 >From a records management/archive point of view this information is invaluable. Again many thanks to those respondees who replied to the Email. I think that we in the RMG should think about doing a Guideline on this subject and I will bring it up at the next RMG Committee meeting. Gillian Whichelo British Waterways Archive %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%