Records that are printed on paper are vulnerable to being damaged by being accidentally ripped, smudged by being mishandled or stolen by an unscrupulous person. There are a number of ways that paper-based records can be secured for archival uses, protecting the contents written on the paper. Scanning your important papers, along with storing them in a secure location such as a safe or a bank safe deposit box are among the typical ways of protecting them from damage or theft.
Instructions
1. Scan the paper-based records into a scanner connected to the PC. Encrypt the saved copies of the records that are on the hard drive using an encryption program. Copy these encrypted files to a blank CD and place the CD in a protective case. Hide the case where it is not likely to be found by someone outside your family, for example, in an attic or basement. Alternatively, you may choose to keep the CD in a safe deposit box or a floor or wall safe.
2. Go to a bank, preferably one close to your home. Ask to speak to the person in charge of safe deposit boxes. Provide the person with the appropriate proof of your identity -- this may vary by banking institution. Purchase a safe deposit box large enough to hold the papers that you will be placing into it for safekeeping. Insert the papers into the safe deposit box and have it returned into the slot it was taken out of.
3. Purchase a floor-mounted safe that is large enough to hold the papers you will be placing inside. The safe should also have a high level of fireproof protection in case a fire erupts -- the intensity of the heat and amount of time the safe can survive the heat is noted on the specifications. Mount the safe to the floor with wood or metal screws -- depending on the floor -- using an electric screwdriver. Place the paper inside the safe and turn the combination dial to engage the locking mechanism.
