SoundkeepKeep a sound CD booklet and tray card in the case designed to hold them, provided the case is clean, dry, and not crushing their edges. Handle paper with clean dry hands, release it from tabs without pulling a single page, and replace broken standard cases before sharp plastic causes damage.
Use our guide to replace a jewel case safely when the hub or tabs have failed. Continue to protect the disc label side; moving paper should never require resting the disc face-down.
Keep four relationships intact
Inspect paper and plastic separately
Check the booklet for folds, tears, loose staples, tide lines, mold, and pages stuck together. Check the case for broken tabs, grit, adhesive, and a hub that forces the disc to bend. One component can need attention while the others remain sound.
Do not open wet or stuck pages by force. Isolate mold-affected or damp packages from the collection and seek paper-conservation guidance.
Remove a booklet without stressing its spine
Open the cover fully on a clean surface. Ease the booklet past the retaining tabs while supporting its spine and fore edge. If the booklet is thick, lift both sides evenly rather than pulling the top page.
Do not trim an insert to fit a replacement case. Choose compatible packaging or keep the original case inside a larger protective enclosure.
Move a tray card only when the tray releases normally
Rear artwork usually sits beneath the plastic tray. Photograph its orientation, release the tray at its designed tabs, and lift the card without creasing the spines. Stop if adhesive, brittle plastic, or unusual construction prevents easy removal.
Custom digipaks and glued packages are not ordinary jewel cases. Avoid dismantling them simply to standardize the shelf.
Consider humidity before changing the original arrangement
NIST notes that large amounts of paper inside a disc case may be a consideration in higher-than-recommended humidity, while also stating that this is not based on specific tests. The practical response is to correct damp storage first, not automatically separate every booklet from its disc.
If a specialist recommends separation, use a labeled external sleeve and preserve the connection in the inventory. Never attach the sleeve to the disc with adhesive.
Create a reversible substitute for frequent use
When a fragile booklet is consulted often, make an authorized reference scan or working copy and leave the original protected. Label the digital file or copy clearly so it is not mistaken for the original.
Record missing pages, prior tape repairs, water staining, and any separation decision. Honest documentation is more useful than making the package appear complete.
Store the complete package upright
Return the disc to its hub, confirm the booklet clears the tabs, and close the case without pinching paper. Store it upright in stable, cool, dry, dark conditions. Do not use rubber bands, loose adhesive notes, or pressure from an overcrowded row.
Preserve evidence when packaging is incomplete
If a booklet, obi strip, tray card, or disc is missing, record the absence instead of combining parts from another edition without documentation. Releases with similar covers may have different catalog numbers, mastering, languages, or track lists.
Place loose unidentified paper in a temporary protective sleeve with a note describing where it was found. Do not guess its matching disc merely to make the shelf appear orderly.
Digitize reference information without replacing the original
A reference scan can reduce repeated handling of lyrics, credits, or liner notes. Capture the complete page in order, name the files with the same collection identifier as the disc, and state that they are access copies.
Scanning does not justify discarding paper. The original may contain print, texture, folds, annotations, or manufacturing details that the digital image does not preserve. Return stable inserts to their documented enclosure after capture.
During a move or case replacement, keep every paper component in a labeled temporary folder until the disc is secured. Reconcile the folder against the inventory before shelving the package.