Yale University Library Research Guides: Preventive Conservation: Box Styles &amp; Housings

Getting started

Please feel free to contact us with any questions about selecting a standard box style, or if you would like us to review the item(s) before sending a request.

When using the Book Measure software, if "DEFAULT" is selected in the Style field, we will select a box style for you that best meets your objects' needs based on the criteria below.

Standard box styles vs. Custom housings

Standard boxes:	Custom housings:
Most often made for books. Items will be measured at your location by you or the CCH team. Measurements are recorded using the Book Measure software. Items will not need to be reviewed by or sent to CCH.	May be created for books or non-book items, such as globes, sculptures and works of art, and for items composed of multiple pieces. Often these housings will need additional supports or modifications to better protect an item. Items will need to be reviewed by the CCH team. Most often these items need to be sent to CCH.

Standard box styles

Clamshell:

The most common type of box we make because they are very user friendly.
These boxes are made for an item with depth/spine greater than or equal to 25 mm.
Typically made with E or B flute Corrugated Board

Portfolio:

For items measuring 24 mm or less in depth/spine.
4-flap wrapper design with a tongue and groove style clasp.
Typically made with 20 or 40 pt. Tan Barrier Board

Rivet:

Made almost exclusively for vellum bound books.
Vellum is very responsive to fluctuations in temperature and relative humidity. Covers can start to splay away from the text-block inside a clamshell and may be strong enough to open the box. The rivet and twine closures ensure that the box will remain closed.
These boxes work best for books that measure at least 25 mm in spine/depth. If they are less than 25 mm, we will build up the bottom with appropriately sized sheets of corrugated board to the correct depth.
Typically made with E or B flute Corrugated Board

2-Piece Drop Front:

This box is often used for larger items as the clamshell box design would be too large to fit on a sheet of board.
Since they consist of a bottom and a lid fitting together, they must be stored flat.
We will contact you before we make these boxes to make sure flat storage can be accommodated.
On the Book Measure software, this box will appear as 2-PDF in the Style field.
Typically made with E or B flute Corrugated Board

CCH Gallery - Custom Housings

Steinberg Medal

To learn more about the Steinberg rehousing project, click here.

Javanese Shadow Puppet

Two-piece box with magnetic straps and a soft insert bed.

Ugo Carrega Glass Sculpture

Two-piece box with drop down walls and supports constructed from Volara and Ethafoam.

Shared Illusions Art Object

Two-piece drop front box with Volara-lined Ethafoam supports.

Preventive Conservation: Box Styles & Housings