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MOLD: MURDER & MAYHEM

IN THE STACKS

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SICK BUILDINGSSICK PEOPLESICK LIBRARIES & JUST PLAIN SICK OF IT ALL!

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MOLD IS OLD NEWS

LEVITICUS 13:47-59 , 14:33-57

(CLEAN MOLDY CLOTHES,HOUSES,ETC.)

KING TUT’S CURSE

-1922 OPENED & 11 DIE-asperigillus flavus-aspergillus terrus

-cephalosporium

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MOLDY DISASTER ROLL CALL….

1997-2 NYPL BRANCHES CLOSED 2-6 MONTHS 1998-ARKANSAS STATE U.

-100,000BOOKS--$53,000 1994-CALIF. STATE-NORTHRIDGE

-500,000 BOOKS--$100,000+ 2001-SANTA FE PUBLIC LIBRARY-CLOSED MONTHS 2002-RURAL HAWAIIAN LIBRARY LOSES HALF OF

COLLECTION 2003-N.C.CENTRAL UNIVERSITY -$500,000 & closed 1 yr.

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MOLDY LIBRARIES-WALLERSTEDT LIBRARY BETHANY COLLEGE

-- $400,000 MOLD PROJECT

-- JULY 2002-APRIL 2003

-- REPLACE ROOF,CEILINGS,

FURNITURE,COMPUTERS

FLOORING

-- REPAIR HVAC SYSTEM

-- IMPROVE DRAINAGE

--FUMIGATE ENTIRE COLLECTION OFF-SITE (chlorine dioxide)

--RESHELF ENTIRE COLLECTION

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MEET THE MOLD FAMILY

.

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MOLD: A multi-cellular, microscopic vegetable plant which forms cobweblike masses of branching threads from the surface of which tiny fertile threads project into the air bearing the part of the plant from which spores develop. Mold may be of brilliant colors or black and white, depending on the type. Molds can develop on leather, cloth, paper, etc., especially in the presence of relatively high heat and relative humidity.

MILDEW: A growth caused by micro-organisms, whose spores, in a moist, warm environment, become molds. They derive their food from the substance on which they form, e.g., the materials of a book. During their growth they produce citric, gluconic, oxalic, or other organic acids, that can damage paper, leather, cloth, etc. They also at times produce color bodies, leading to staining which is difficult to remove.

FUNGI: A large number of the spores of fungi is always present in the atmosphere, and while paper is not a particularly suitable medium to support the growth of molds and fungi, under favorable conditions, such as relatively high temperature and high relative humidity. paper will support the growth of these micro-organisms, some of which have a similar action on paper to that of dry rot fungus on wood

FOXING: Stains, specks, on paper. Machine made paper 18-19 century has high acid & iron. Factor which controls foxing is relative humidity (R.H.). Fungoid in nature. http://palimpsest.stanford.edu/bytopic/mold/#terminology

F&FM&M

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A MOLDY ANATOMY

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NOT WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE! Active mold will go dormant

& inactive mold will remain dormant as long as it has no moisture to “bloom”.

Active mold’s enzymes digest organic materials (paper, book cloth, etc.) It weakens or destroys them.

Mold is a potential health hazard whether active or dormant.

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HIDDEN DANGERS in little used areas of the library

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SYMPTOMS: FURRY & SLIMYDIAGNOSIS: ACTIVE MOLD

INFECTION GET HELP

FAST OR IT WILL BE

FATAL!

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MOLDY BOOKS

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MOLD STAINS

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Note the pink "splotch" at the bottom-center of this photo. It is the telltale warning sign that there is a likely mold "bloom" behind the vinyl wall covering. AVOID VINYL WALL COVERINGS!

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FURNITURE MOLD CAN BE SAME OR

DIFFERENT TYPE OF MOLD THAN ON BOOKS.

MAY NEED TO DESTROY FURNITURE IF HEAVILY SATURATED

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WATER DAMAGE=MOLD INVITATION

-FLOODS

-PLUMBING LEAKS

-LEAKY ROOF

-WATER FOUNTAINS

-HUMIDITY

-POOR LANDSCAPING

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HVAC Adequately cool your

building, but they do little or nothing to reduce the quantity of water in the air (the absolute relative humidity). Failure to dehumidify will often allow relative humidities to reach levels of 65% or higher — well into the region where mold growth is very likely.

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Secure a clean, dry environment where the temperature and humidity are as low as possible. The temperature ideally shouldbe below 70 degrees F. and the humidity below 50% to discourage…

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“librarian’s lung”

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HEALTH EFFECTS OF MOLD respiratory problems and symptoms. Mucous membrane irritation, coupled with a dry cough

and eye irritation, are common responses to continuous exposure.

Bronchitis and chronic pulmonary disease, while typically associated with smoking, may also be related to such allergic reactions in long exposure.

Allergic rhinitis and asthma, particularly among those who are constitutionally predisposed to allergies, is perhaps one of the most severe responses to mold exposure

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EXTREME : MAN WITHOUT A FACE

http://mold-help.org/submenus/mold_stories/marktatum.htm

Mucormycosis and Blastomycosis

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SMALL JOBS

HEPA VAC(High Effeciency Particulant

Arrestant)

Use with soft brushes to gather up mold on collections

Take work outside

on hot,sunny day

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Effective against many molds & bacteria in a short time

Breaks down to a simple salt ion that is found in table salt & sea water

No toxic residue Packets available for use in small closed areas

Ideal biocide (was used in 2001 anthrax

cleanups in Washington D.C.)

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MOLD PREVENTION….

Keep books away from wall contact

to allow air-flow behind books Minimize live-plant areas as they

increase humidity Redirect water away from building

exterior (sprinklers, gutters, hill landscaping)

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MOLD PREVENTION cont.

-No long-term dark areas -Dust collection religiously -Caution when accepting donated books -Quickly fix plumbing leaks -Regularly inspect collection for mold

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MOLD PREVENTION

NO EXTREME CHANGES IN TEMP/HUMIDITY AIR CONDITIONER /HEAT MAINTENANCE USE DATA-LOGGERS IN LIBRARY(records humidity & temperature fluctuations for long-term

analysis)

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CONSIDERATIONS: COST, EASE OF OPERATION, USE OF DATA

RECORDING HYGROTHERMOGRAPHS: ------use a human hair bundle to measure humidity. Circular & drum charts available to be

recorded on. Charts available for daily, weekly, or monthly cycle. Continuous monitoring.

SLING PSYCHROMETERS: -----Has two thermometers. One has wick that is wetted with distilled water. The instrument is

swung for several minutes to get reading. Flow of air over wet wick cools the second thermometer and the difference between the dry and wet temps. Calculates the RH.

DATALOGGERS: ---Use electronic sensors to record temp. & RH. Data can be transferred to

computer to produce customized charts that illustrate conditions over time.

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K.W.U. datalogger chart

*F-temp. %-humidity%-humidity HVAC READINGSDATE 8AM 3PM 11PM

UP *F DOWN*F UP % DOWN % UP *F DOWN*F UP % DOWN % UP *F DOWN *F UP % DOWN%9-Sep 70 71 49 47 70 68 49 49

10-Sep 71 71 51 52 68 71 46 4911-Sep 71 69 61 5512-Sep 68 71 63 60 68 72 60 5713-Sep 69 69 70 5214-Sep 68 52 70 5515-Sep 69 69 50 52 69 69 53 5216-Sep 70 69 43 45 70 68 49 4817-Sep 70 69 58 5718-Sep 71 68 64 7319-Sep 70 70 57 61 70 69 52 5720-Sep 71 69 58 51 69 69 50 5321-Sep 69 70 58 66 70 69 63 6122-Sep 70 68 52 56 69 69 64 6023-Sep 68 68 46 44 68 68 48 5024-Sep 71 69 50 45

25-Sep 70 69 50 52

26-Sep 71 53 69 53 69 68 53 5327-Sep 69 52 69 53 70 69 56 5528-Sep 69 69 50 52 68 68 52 5129-Sep 69 42 70 68 50 50 69 51 51 4830-Sep 68 68 47 53 69 68 56 52

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PRESERVATION CALCULATOR

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HEED THE WARNING SIGNS OF MOLD BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE

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Mold: Murder & Mayhem in the Stacks

Presented by: Lynda Linder, associate librarian Kansas Wesleyan University 100 E. Claflin Salina, KS 67401

lyndal@kwu.edu 785-827-5541 ext.4150 or llinder22@yahoo.com 785-227-2514 LI861A-E.S.U. Fall, 2003