from Wired News
CDs, DVDs: Human After All
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Digital preservation has some urgent work cut in determining the reliability of CDs and DVDs as storage media. Lost of digital information can result the physical deterioration of materials used in the making of these discs.

Some tips for safekeeping these optical storage media :

- use write-once-only discs (CD-Rs or DVD-Rs) rather than rewriteable ones (CD-RWs or DVD-RWs);
- do not use adhesive labels on discs;
- write on discs with water-based or alcohol-based pens;
- do not bend discs;
- handle discs by the edges only;
- do not stack, scratch the label side or cause discs to rub against each other;
- store discs vertically in good-fitting cases which do not have a gripping stud in the centre;
- store discs in a cool and dry place;
- and where possible, store in an oxygen-free environment to reduce risk of oxidation of the metallic (aluminum) layer

This is one clear example that digital preservation must also address the issue of preserving actual and tangible materials, in addition to virtual data or information.