Don't Lose It: Disc Preservation Workbook

Your CDs and DVDs are deteriorating — and most people don't find out until the disc won't play.

This comprehensive workbook covers what's actually happening to your discs, what warning signs to look for, and how to store and protect your collection before it's too late. Written by a consulting archivist with over a decade of preservation experience, and grounded in research from NIST and the Library of Congress.

What's inside: step-by-step digitization instructions, a full inventory system, copyright guidance, software recommendations, and a metadata tracker

Format breakdown: CD vs. DVD — how each fails and why

Warning signs of disc rot with visual inspection guide

Storage best practices with specific temperature and humidity thresholds

The 3-2-1 backup rule, explained in plain language

Cited sources so you know where the information comes from