A record sleeve may hold a poster, a catalogue, an order form and a lyric sheet. Treating all loose paper as “liner notes” hides the different roles those pieces played.
Lay out the contents only where they can be handled safely. Record each item separately with a short description and any visible title or date. Avoid forcing fragile folds flat simply to make a neat photograph.
Ask what the item does. Does it explain the recording, advertise other releases, provide lyrics or invite a purchase? A label catalogue can describe the world around a release without discussing the album itself.
Keep uncertain associations visible. An insert found inside a second-hand sleeve may have been added by a previous owner. Write “found with this copy” unless you have evidence that it formed part of the original package.
A useful catalogue entry can list confirmed contents and additional items in separate fields. This helps when you later compare copies or wonder why a photograph of another edition shows a different package.
Return the materials to suitable storage without adding adhesive labels to the originals. Your note should preserve their relationship while leaving room for uncertainty about how that relationship began.
Illustration selected from this site’s existing collection.