Fragility

 

Fragility is susceptibility to damage by handling or storage e.g. accidental damage

This is one of the four Preservation Factors (Fragility; Longevity; Format Obsolesence; Holdings) that go to make up the concept of Urgency or Likelihood of Loss.

Each of these technical factors have been given a ranking of one to five: one being the most at risk to five the least at risk.

1 – Treat as Glass
2 – Very Fragile
3 – Breakable
4 – Needs Some Caution
5 – Hardy Medium

Examples
Treat as Glass – lacquer discs; wax cylinders

Using the Fragility Factor the highest risk Audio formats are considered to be lacquer discs and wax cylinders at the other end of the scale we consider Vinyl LPs to be a Hardy Medium.