Library Preservation Today!
Environmental Monitoring and Control
A VIRTUAL PRECONFERENCE PRESENTED BY
JULIE MOSBO
TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
JUNE 17, 2014
Julie Mosbo
2
About me…
 William and Susan Ouren Preservation Librarian at Texas A&M
University Libraries since October 2013.
 Prior to TAMU, Preservation Librarian at
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
from 2008-2013.
 ACLTS Fundamentals of Preservation Instructor
since 2011.
Library Preservation Today!, hosted by ALCTS, Association for Library Collections & Technical Services, June 2014
Overview
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 Temperature & Humidity
 Storage & Exhibit
 Pests
 Mold
Library Preservation Today!, hosted by ALCTS, Association for Library Collections & Technical Services, June 2014
Temperature & Humidity
4
Library Preservation Today!, hosted by ALCTS, Association for Library Collections & Technical Services, June 2014
Why is Temperature & Humidity Important?
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 Contributes to the changes in the physical makeup
of materials

Heat


High relative humidity


Accelerates deterioration
moisture creates harmful chemical reactions in materials
High humidity and low temperatures

Creates an environment for mold growth and insect
activity
 Dramatic fluctuations in temperature and relative
humidity creates problems



Materials are continuously adapting to their environment
through the absorption and release of moisture.
Creates expanding and contracting
Leads to issues including:




cockling paper
flaking ink
warped covers on books
cracked emulsion
Library Preservation Today!, hosted by ALCTS, Association for Library Collections & Technical Services, June 2014
Temperature & Humidity
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 Standards

National Information Standards Organization (NISO) report:
Environmental Guidelines for the Storage of Paper Records

Combined stack and user areas



Optimum preservation stacks




Temp.: +/-2°F
%RH: +/-3%
Conservation Environment Guidelines for Libraries and Archives (1990)

Ideal Environment for Libraries and Archives



Temp.: 35-65°F
%RH: 30-50%
Maximum daily fluctuation


Temp.: 70°F
%RH: 30%–50%
Temp.: 60°–65°F
%RH: 40%–45%
National Archives and Records Administration (NARA, 2002)

Ideal Environment for Libraries and Archives


Temp.: 65°F
%RH: 35%–45%
Library Preservation Today!, hosted by ALCTS, Association for Library Collections & Technical Services, June 2014
Preventative Preservation
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 Environmental Monitoring
program


Identify the types of items in your
collections
Work with your facilities personal to
determine what your HVAC can do




DO NOT make your HVAC system do
something it wasn’t designed to do
Use data loggers or hygrothermographs
Review and record the data
Share the data with facilities
Library Preservation Today!, hosted by ALCTS, Association for Library Collections & Technical Services, June 2014
Storage & Exhibits
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Library Preservation Today!, hosted by ALCTS, Association for Library Collections & Technical Services, June 2014
Problem Areas
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 Lighting
 Fading
 Heat
 Pollutants
 Particulates




Abrasive
Attract pests and mold
Cause staining
Gaseous pollutants (sulfur dioxide, nitrogen
oxide, and ozone)


Staining and discoloration
Accelerate deterioration
 Storage
 Acidic
 Off-gassing
 Size
Library Preservation Today!, hosted by ALCTS, Association for Library Collections & Technical Services, June 2014
Preventative Preservation
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 Lighting Requirements


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Levels should be kept as low as
possible - Turn off lights not in use
UV component eliminated - UV
filters on windows and lights
Reading and Inspection Areas:
300-600 lux
Display: 50-150 lux (lower is
better); limited periods
Storage Areas: 10-50 lux
Set a plan for page turning or item
replacement during a long exhibit
Low-budget solution – Blinds!
Library Preservation Today!, hosted by ALCTS, Association for Library Collections & Technical Services, June 2014
Preventative Preservation
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 Pollutants
 Particulate



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
Gaseous


Filtered debris through central systems
Create a regular schedule of replacing filters
Plan for routine housekeeping
 dusting and vacuuming
Protect items inside enclosures (cabinets,
boxes, etc.)
Keep doors and windows closed
Keep in mind everyday facility items that can
off gas, including:
 building materials, furnishings, cleaning
agents, and photocopiers (photocopiers
generate ozone which can accelerate
deterioration)
Good air exchange with clean replacement
air will help to reduce pollution levels.
Library Preservation Today!, hosted by ALCTS, Association for Library Collections & Technical Services, June 2014
Preventative Preservation
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 Storage:



Lignin-free
Acid free
Polypropylene or Mylar

Just because something might say
it’s “archival” it still may not be acid
free and/or lignin-free.
Library Preservation Today!, hosted by ALCTS, Association for Library Collections & Technical Services, June 2014
Integrated Pest Management
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Library Preservation Today!, hosted by ALCTS, Association for Library Collections & Technical Services, June 2014
What
is a “Pest”?
Issues
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 Typical kinds of pests:
 Beetles
 Cockroaches
 Silverfish
 Spiders
 Mice/Rats
 Squirrels
 Raccoons/Possums
Library Preservation Today!, hosted by ALCTS, Association for Library Collections & Technical Services, June 2014
Example
Pest
Issues
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 PESTS & INSECTS
•
Silverfish

Eat material high in protein,
sugar, or starch, including cereals,
moist wheat flour, starch in book
bindings, sizing in paper, and
paper on which there is glue or
paste; may bite very small holes in
various fabrics, including cotton,
linen, and silk, even though they
cannot digest either linen or
cotton.
Library Preservation Today!, hosted by ALCTS, Association for Library Collections & Technical Services, June 2014
Example
Pest
Issues
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 PESTS & INSECTS
•
Cockroaches

Eat almost anything
including meats and grease,
starchy foods, sweets, baked
goods, leather, wallpaper
paste, book bindings and
sizing.
Library Preservation Today!, hosted by ALCTS, Association for Library Collections & Technical Services, June 2014
Identification
of Pest Activity
Issues
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Library Preservation Today!, hosted by ALCTS, Association for Library Collections & Technical Services, June 2014
We Found Pests: What Do We Do?
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 Damaged caused by insects is
irreversible
 Ways of treating infestations
 Fumigation collections
 Oxygen deprivation or CO2
treatment
 Freezing
 Vacuuming
 Costs
 Time
 Staff
 Outside vendors
 Equipment
Library Preservation Today!, hosted by ALCTS, Association for Library Collections & Technical Services, June 2014
Preventative Measures
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 Integrated Pest
Management (IPM)
Program




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Education
Assess the building/facility
Assess new collections coming
into the building
Set and monitor traps
Housekeeping
Monitor food/drink
Library Preservation Today!, hosted by ALCTS, Association for Library Collections & Technical Services, June 2014
Mold
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Library Preservation Today!, hosted by ALCTS, Association for Library Collections & Technical Services, June 2014
What is Mold?
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 It’s a fungi
 10,000 species of fungi



Mildew
Mold
Mushrooms
 Mold…
 Is made up of spores
 Spores are airborne
 Can vary in color
 Active Mold
 Still growing

environment (Temp. and %RH ) is not
stable
 Inactive mold
 environment is more stable.
Library Preservation Today!, hosted by ALCTS, Association for Library Collections & Technical Services, June 2014
What Causes Mold?
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 Different types of materials
absorb different amounts of
water.

When different materials are exposed to
the same environment, some develop
mold and others do not.
 Lower temperature and higher
humidity increases the chance of
mold growth.
 Mold growth can start to occur
48-72 hours in such conditions.
Library Preservation Today!, hosted by ALCTS, Association for Library Collections & Technical Services, June 2014
What Damage Does Mold Cause?
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 Mold eats paper and other materials
found in libraries and archives.
 Mold is attracted to cellulose, starch
adhesives, and sizing.
 Mold excretes digestive enzymes that
allow them to eat those materials.
 These enzymes can alter, weaken, and
stain materials.
 Mold is also an issue for people.


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Allergies
Asthma
Respiratory problems
Weak immune systems
Skin and eye irritations
Library Preservation Today!, hosted by ALCTS, Association for Library Collections & Technical Services, June 2014
We Found Mold: What Do We Do?
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 Check the environment.



Temp & %RH
Is moisture coming through somewhere?
Is there a problem with the HVAC system?
 Modify the environment:

Stabilize temp. & %RH





Temp: below 70oF
%RH: 55% or lower
If needed, remove water and moisture.
Increase air circulation and draw out moisture
from the air.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):
 Gloves (preferable non-latex gloves)
 A protective mask (preferably a N95 or N100)
 Goggles
Library Preservation Today!, hosted by ALCTS, Association for Library Collections & Technical Services, June 2014
Preventative Measures
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 Keep a stable environment
 Create an Environmental
Monitoring Plan



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Identify materials in collection and
determine the best environment for those
collections
Use data loggers or hygrothermographs
Record and save the data
Report issues as soon as possible
 Assess New Materials
 If coming from a questionable location,
quarantine collections
 Separate anything suspicious
Library Preservation Today!, hosted by ALCTS, Association for Library Collections & Technical Services, June 2014
Resources
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 Northeast Document Center Preservation Leaflets

http://www.nedcc.org/free-resources/preservation-leaflets/overview
 Integrated Pest Management Working Group

http://museumpests.net/
 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign IPM Photo Reference

http://www.library.illinois.edu/prescons/services/ipm/ipm_photoref.html
 At Your Library – Pass It On! Preservation Week

http://www.atyourlibrary.org/passiton
 Cornell Library Preservation and Conservation

https://www.library.cornell.edu/preservation/librarypreservation/mee/index.html
Library Preservation Today!, hosted by ALCTS, Association for Library Collections & Technical Services, June 2014
Questions
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Julie Mosbo
jmosbo@library.tamu.edu
Library Preservation Today!, hosted by ALCTS, Association for Library Collections & Technical Services, June 2014