PRESERVATION OF LIBRARY

MATERIALS

CHAPTER 2:
THREATS TO LIBRARY
MATERIALS

Deterioration factor and methods of control

CONTENTS
 Introduction
 Causes of Deterioration
 Physical/Environmental

 Biologicalfactors
 Chemical factors

 Human factors

 Disasters
Introduction
▪ Modern libraries maintain collections that include
not only printed materials such as:
▪ books, periodicals, newspapers, and magazines, but also art
reproductions, films, sound and video recordings, maps,
photographs, microfiches, microfilms, CD-ROMs, computer
software, online databases, and other media.
Introduction
 The basic objective of a library is to collect,
organize, preserve, and provide access to
knowledge and information.
 In fulfilling this objective, libraries preserve a
valuable record of culture that can be passed down
to succeeding generations.
Introduction
 Libraries have always struggled against the physical
destruction of their collections. Fires, floods, earthquakes, and
wars have damaged the holdings of countless libraries,
destroying forever much of the recorded history of human
civilization.
 library materials also fall victim to slow decay caused by acid
content in paper, insect infestation, improper storage or
handling, and excessive heat, mildew, humidity, and air
pollution.
 Introduction
6

 What is deterioration?
 Deterioration implies generally the impairment of value
or usefulness.

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7

 There are many different reasons why library

material and archives deteriorate.
 Perhaps the most significant factor is the nature of
library and archival materials themselves: many of
its are composed of materials that are acidic, which
means they are inherently fragile and prone to
degradation.

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8

 Other factors in the degradation of library and

archival materials are fluctuations in or excessive
levels of temperature and relative humidity;
excessive exposure to light; air pollution; water
damage; destruction from biological agents such as
mould or insects; or abuse and mishandling.

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 Deterioration Factors & Methods of Control

 Introduction
 Causes of Deterioration
 Physical/Environmental
▪ Temperature and Relative Humidity
▪ Light
 Biological factors
▪ Macro organisms
▪ Micro organisms
 Chemical factors
▪ Acidity
▪ Air Pollution and Atmospheric Gases
 Human factors
 Disasters
 Physical /Environmental Factors
10

 In an library environment, changes in relative humidity

can have a negative effect on materials
 High relative humidity, particularly when coupled with
high temperatures, accelerates the chemical
deterioration of materials.
 High relative humidity can also cause some inks to
feather: that is, to spread, sometimes well across the
page, damaging the material.

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 Physical /Environmental Factors
11

 If relative humidity is too low, and therefore the air is

too dry, materials will become brittle and may crack
or split.
 If the relative humidity is too high, materials can
absorb the moisture and so swell and warp.
 High relative humidity can also promote mould
growth, which is highly dangerous to materials.

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 Physical /Environmental Factors
12

 Changes in relative humidity will cause materials to expand or

contract, causing stress and weakening the physical structure of
the items.
 Indeed, fluctuations in temperature and relative humidity are
more damaging than consistently high or consistently low levels.
 Fluctuations in temperature and relative humidity can be highly
damaging to materials.

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 Temperature and Relative Humidity
13

 Temperature: The level of heat or cold in a

substance, body or environment.
 It is a general rule that the higher a temperature,
the more quickly library and archival materials will
deteriorate.
 This is because higher temperatures speed up the
chemical processes that cause deterioration.
 Ideally, archives should be stored in an environment
with a lower, rather than higher, temperature.
 Office environments, of course, must be comfortable
for people to work.
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 Relative Humidity
14

 Relative humidity: The ratio of the amount of water

vapour in the air to the amount that would be
present at the same temperature were the
atmosphere to be fully saturated.
 Relative humidity is expressed as a percentage.

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 Temperature and relative humidity
15

Consider the following guidelines:

 Monitor temperature and relative humidity

 Regularly, even if you are unable to change
conditions in the library and archives.
 A record of both items will indicate any fluctuations
over time and give you a clear idea of the quality
of your storage facilities. To measure temperature,
install a thermometer in each room in the library
and archives.
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 Check the temperature regularly, preferably at the

same time every day.
 Keep a record of the daily temperatures so you can
compare changes in different months and seasons.
 Use a hygrometer to measure relative humidity.

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 Establish adequate environmental conditions.

 Control the temperature and relative humidity in
the library and archives whenever possible, using
devices such as humidifiers and dehumidifiers.
 Such items can be costly, so before considering any
purchase, consult with librarian/archivists,
conservators, and mechanical engineers about the
best equipment, correct installation, and proper
usage.

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 Dehumidifier
(alat penyerapan air dari udara)
21

 Install fans to circulate or cool air, blinds to cut out sun

and lower temperatures, or heaters to raise
temperatures.
 Monitor the temperature and relative humidity
regularly to see if any new technique or device is
helping or hurting.

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 Recommended level of Temperature & RH

Suhu Kelembapan
Bahan Suhu Bahan Kelembapan
Kertas 18°C - 22°C Kertas RH 50% - 55%,

Mikrofilem 15°C - 18°C Rekod Pandang RH 25% - 45%,

Dengar

Gambar (Hitam 18°C - 20°C Rekod Elektronik RH 30% - 40

Putih)

Gambar kurang 18°C

(Berwarna)

Pita Video 15°C - 18°C

 Light
 Light speeds up the oxidation of paper, causing materials to
deteriorate faster.
 Oxidation: The combination of oxygen with another element to
promote deterioration, such as rusting of metal or
disintegration of paper.
 Light also has a bleaching action, causing coloured papers and
inks to whiten or fade. At the same time, light can increase the
chemical activity in paper, causing changes in colour; consider
the effect of sunlight on a newspaper.
 Light also generates heat and, as discussed above, heat can
speed up the process of degradation of materials.
 Ultraviolet light is the most harmful light, because
the particular wavelength of ultraviolet light is very
active, generating more radiation.
 High levels of radiation can increase chemical
deterioration. Ultraviolet light is found in sunlight
and fluorescent light, so both these types of light
need to be controlled in the library/archival
institution
 Light
25

 Store library/archival materials away from light.

 Keep them in a windowless room or cover the windows with
heavy black curtains and blinds.

 Keep the lights off or low

 Whenever possible and reduce the wattage of bulbs.

 Install ultraviolet filters over fluorescent lighting.

 These filters are plastic covers that slip over the fluorescent
tubes, screening out ultraviolet rays.
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 There are also fluorescent lamps available with built-

in ultraviolet filtration.
 These are more expensive than covers but last much
longer than regular fluorescent bulbs.
 Replace fluorescent lighting with incandescent lamps
whenever possible.

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 Inspect materials regularly

 Checking for fading or drying. Closely monitor any
items stored in the open or without proper
containers.
 Wrap materials in archival/paper tissue and box
them in lightproof containers
 if they need special protection.
 Avoid using original items in displays or exhibits.
 if possible, replace them with copies, either
photographic reproductions or photocopies.
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 Monitor light levels regularly

 Measuring visible light and ultraviolet light, and
keep a record of changes in light levels.

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Biological Factors
 Biological agents thrive on the organic matter they
find in library materials. Absence of proper
ventilation, darkness, high temperature and relative
humidity encourage their spread.
 The biological agents can be grouped into macro
organisms and micro organisms.
Biological Factors
 Macro organisms
▪ Silver fish
▪ Book lice
▪ Book worm
▪ Cockroaches
▪ Termites
▪ Rodents
Biological Factors
 Micro organisms
▪ Fungus
▪ Mildew and Mould
 Biological Factors
37

▪ These agents are not invited agents but play active roles in the
destruction of records. They thrive very well in the hot and wet
climate of the tropics and this poses a lot of problems in
countries like Malaysia.
▪ The attack both the paper and the plastics components
including those that have starches in it.
▪ Holes were developed, papers turn into spots and eventually
deteriorated.
▪ Their presence can be encouraged by high relative humidity,
high temperatures, a complete absence of light and the
availability of nutrients.

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38 L ipas
• Makan bahan-bahan manis yang
digunakan di dalam menjilid
•Memakan bahagian hujung buku-buku

G egat (Sliverfish)
• Terdapat di buku-buku lama
•Mempunyai gigi yang tajam dan
dapat menembusi kertas &
dokumen
•Membiak di dalam gedung/bilik
simpanan rekod yang panas dan
lembap
39 B ubuk (Book Lice)
• Selalu terdapat dibelakang buku
ataupun di antara muka surat
• Pembiakan di tempat rekod yang
sesak

A nai-anai
• Merosakkan buku-buku dan juga
bangunan
•Hidup bermasyarakat
40

 Check incoming material

 for signs of insects before it is placed into storage.
 Store infested items away from other library/archival
material
 until they can be cleaned.
 Never eat or drink in the storage or research areas.
 Keep the library materials clean and uncluttered
 eliminating dark, warm corners perfect for nesting

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 If necessary, set traps or poisoned baits to catch rodents.

 Contact a conservator or exterminator about cleaning
infested material.
 One way to eliminate bugs, fungus, or mould is to fumigate:
exposing the documents to certain chemicals.
 Fumigation of any type must be done under proper conditions;
chemical fumes are hazardous and must be properly
ventilated.

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 Remember that fumigation is not a lasting treatment.

 Proper care and management is still required to keep the
records from deteriorating.
 It is also possible to freeze materials, killing insects without
damaging the materials.
 Clean any new building or storage area
 before you move in.
 Also have it fumigated if possible.
 Install temperature and humidity controls
 whenever possible.

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 Rodents
46

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 Fungi, mould, insects and mildew
47

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48

 Keep temperature and humidity levels consistent,

◼ ideally at 19 to 20º C (66 to 68º F) and below 45 per cent rh,
to control mould and mildew.
 If necessary, fumigate infested materials
 to kill fungi, spores, and insects.

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Mould and mildew can severely damage library

material/archival records; such damage is often
irreparable.

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 Chemical Factor
55

 Acidity
▪ Acidity is the quality of being acid, or ‘sour.’ Acidity is the
opposite of alkalinity, which is the quality of being alkaline or, in
effect, ‘sweet.’
▪ Acids contain high levels of positively charged hydrogen ions that
can, if introduced to paper, make it fragile and prone to
deterioration.
▪ These ions can be introduced during the paper manufacturing
process, from writing inks used or because of poor storage.
▪ The level of acidity or alkalinity in something is measured on a
pH scale, an arbitrary numerical scale ranging from 0 to 14.
Neutrality – a state neither too acid nor too alkaline – is found at
7.0.

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 Acid
56

 Acid is the worst enemy of library/archival materials.

 Acid is found in sulfur dioxide in polluted air, in lignin
in wood pulp, in the products and chemicals used to
make paper, in certain types of ink, and in leather
bindings. it can also migrate from other materials.
 Acid can weaken and damage paper and other
materials, causing fading, darkening, and chemical
deterioration.

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▪ All numbers above 7.0 represent increasing alkalinity; all numbers below
7.0 indicate increasing acidity.
▪ The scale is logarithmic, with each number representing a tenfold change in
acidity or alkalinity.
▪ Thus a pH of 5 is 10 times more acidic than a pH of 6, and a pH of 4 is
100 times more acidic than a pH of 6.
▪ Both high acidity and high alkalinity are destructive to materials, but acid is
considered the most damaging of the two in the archival environment.
▪ Many library materials, particularly paper-based materials, are of
inherently poor quality because they contain high quantities of acid, which
can weaken and deteriorate the structure of the paper itself, causing it to
degrade.

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 Chemical Factor
58

 Acid can also be found in ink, adhesives and the chemicals

used to process photographs.
 When library materials are acidic to begin with, poor
environmental conditions can easily affect their stability and
longevity.

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 Chemical Factor
60

 Air Pollution and Atmospheric Gases

▪ The environment in industrial cities is highly polluted.
▪ It contains pollutants like dust, smoke, coke dust, fly ash,
salt particles, calcium, ammonium sulphate, nitrates,
chlorides, solid oxides, soot tars, and gases like carbon
monoxide, nitric oxide, nitrous oxide, sulphur dioxide,
ozone, olefins, aromatic hydrocarbons, aldehydes,
ketones, paraffins, hydrogen sulphide, halogen
compounds and ammonia.
▪ All these factors lead to increase the acidity of the
documents.

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 Store Library/archival materials in acid-free containers.

 Using acid-free storage materials is one of the most
valuable preventive measures you can take in your
archives.
 Remove all clips, staples, pins, string, tape, and other
extraneous items from archival material; these may be
acidic or rusty. Be careful not to damage the records
themselves when removing these items. Use plastic or
stainless steel clips if necessary.

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 Use metal shelving whenever possible;

 wooden shelves usually have a high acid content.
Wooden shelving may be covered with special
paints to reduce acid migration

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Rak Bergerak (mobile shelves)
Kabinet Peta & Pelan
Rak Terbuka
Kabinet AV
Kotak dan Rak
Jarak antara rak dengan siling lebih kurang 1.5 kaki

Jarak bawah rak dengan lantai lebih kurang 6 inci

68

Acid can fade, darken, weaken, and damage library

material and archival records.

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Disaster
 An emergency situation can occur at any time and
be of varying scope and scale, from a small water
leak in a storage space to a widespread natural
disaster.
 These events can leave library/archival holdings
vulnerable to damage.
 The library/Archives takes a proactive approach to
disaster preparedness by maintaining an
emergency manual or disaster plan.
 Fire and water
72

 Store flammable liquids, chemicals, paints, and

solvents away from the library/archives.
 Prohibit smoking near library/archival material or in
the storage area.
 Install adequate fire extinguishers, sprinklers, and/or
hoses. Have the manufacturer or supplier explain how
to use them and ensure that the chemicals are not
harmful or toxic.
 Store library/archival materials above the basement
level to reduce the risk of water damage.

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 Store materials on metal shelving at least four to

six inches above floor level.
 Have the local fire department inspect the
library/archives
 for fire hazards and suggest preventive measures
specific to your building.
 Ensure the wiring and building construction is
sound
 and free of hazardous materials.

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 Try not to store materials in a room with exposed

pipes
 which may burst or leak.
 Check and repair all defective plumbing and wrap
pipes to prevent or reduce condensation.
 Install fire doors or walls
 dividing
the library materials /archives into
compartments to confine fires or flooding.

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Alat Pengesan Asap
Telefon Bomba
Hose Bomba
Alat Penggera
 Natural Disaster
79

 Natural hazards occurs unexpectedly and may cause serious

loss and destruction, not only to human lives but also to
buildings and those contained in the building.
 Natural disasters may occurs with fire, flood, earthquakes,
typhoon and tornadoes-proned areas.

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 Human Factors
81

 Human mishandlings and carelessness is not less

dangerous that other factors.
 Careless to switch up the electrical devices, the use of
pen or eating in the library vicinity can also invite
rodents and other danger.
 Other than the improper handling there is also the
likelihood of theft cause substantial amount of
materials to disappear from the building.

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Human Factor
 Improper storage
 Rough handling
 Deliberate abuse
 Page folding
 Marking by ball pen
 Mutilation
 vandalism
 People
85

 Handle library/archival materials as little as

possible.
 Keep your hands clean and wear cotton gloves.
 Never use ink
 on or near library/archival materials.
 Never use any kind of adhesive tape
 on library/archival materials.
 Do not add to or write on library/archival material,
 except to note an accession or item number; then, write
only in soft pencil on the upper right hand corner of any
item, preferably on the back.

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86

 Substitute copies
 either photocopies or microfilm, for worn, damaged, or
sensitive originals.
 Make sure researchers do not mishandle
materials
 bending, folding, tracing, or writing on them.

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 Examine library/archival materials after use

 especially if you suspect damage.
 Store materials securely in folders and boxes
 fullbut not overfilled. Partially empty boxes will cause
items to sag and bend; tightly packed boxes will press
materials together and cause them to tear as they are
removed or replaced.

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 Inform researchers and new libray/archival staff of

the requirements for handling library/archival
items.
 Dust and clean
 the storage areas regularly to keep containers and
shelving clean.
 Do not laminate documents
 sealing them permanently into a plastic enclosure. if
papers need to be enclosed in a protective cover,
encapsulate them, encasing them in a special plastic
container which can be removed at any time.
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References
Kademani, B. S., Kalyane, V. L., & Kumar, V. (2003). Preservation of
information resources in libraries: new challenges.

Roy, M. B., & Kumar, N. Preservation and Conservation of Library

Materials In The Digital Age.