HOUSEKEEPING

Introduction

Maintaining a clean, storage environment is an ongoing responsibility
that will do much to preserve library and archive collections

Particulate pollutants such as dirt and dust

• abrade, soil and disfigure library material
• are particularly harmful to magnetic and optical media
• are extremely damaging to photographic and film media

Moreover, dust and dirt are easily transferred from one item to another and in the presence of moisture become fertile ground for mould growth and areas of acidity.

Clean surroundings discourage mould, insects, and pests

Only a regular, supervised cleaning programme, which is carried out with care, will help to ensure the protection of collections against particulate pollutants.

To reduce the amount of dust and dirt that accumulates on books and shelving, floors in book storage areas should be kept as clean as possible. Floors should be vacuumed regularly. Sweeping is discouraged because it tends to stir up and scatter dirt. Floors should be washed and carpets cleaned when needed. It is essential that precautions be taken to prevent books on lower shelves from being splashed by cleaning agents.

The cleaning programme should include the examination of collections not only to provide early warning of biological (mould and insects) or chemical (brittle paper, red rot, acidity ) damage but also to observe conditions throughout the area.