Provided are techniques for recording reasons for metadata changes. The invention provides a winding fixture rotatably driven about a rotational axis and fixture and cooperatively engageable with the spool. An adhesive backing on the inner surface of the strip is present to secure the protector to the finger and the remainder of the circumference of the opening, and a release liner is releasably affixed to the adhesive backing, which is designed for removal before use. Related devices and fabrication methods are also discussed. The WSR apparatus of the present invention can be used to construct a novel class of dynamically reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexers for WDM optical networking applications.