Re: [ARSCLIST] Vermin

["Watsky, Lance" <lwatsky@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Kurt,

I am one of the folks at the Georgia Archives responsible for Pest
Control Management. As such, I will try to answer your questions.

What do archives do to combat this problem? Some of the steps include
removal of any food sources in areas where the records are kept, reduce
the humidity levels, and increase the lighting in vulnerable areas in
order to repel the insects.  

Do you spray or fog, how often do you do it, and what chemicals do you
use?
We try to minimize the use of any sprays or fogs, and instead utilize
sticky traps. 

Do you try to protect the top edge of sleeved records when fogging, or
do
you find that the pesticide does not affect the shellac or vinyl? I
would be concerned of the long term effects of residual chemicals on the
records. I am not aware of any studies on this. Many archives will also
re-sleeve the records into alkaline sleeves, and make preservation
photocopies of any of the artwork.

Do you put any sort of repellant (like mothballs) inside boxes or
cabinets? No.

How do you prevent new accessions from contaminating the rest of your
facility? When records are first brought into the building they are
placed in an isolated room for inspection. If the records turn out to
either have infestation or mold then they will be brought into another
isolated room to have preservation work done. We also have an isolated
freeze that paper records can be placed into in order to kill any
insects.

I hope that this info helps, if you have any additional questions feel
free to contact me off-list.

Best Regards,

Lance Watsky
Preservation & Media Specialist
The Georgia Archives
5800 Jonesboro Road
Morrow, GA 30260
678-364-3764 (phone)
678-364-3860 (fax)
lwatsky@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
www.GeorgiaArchives.org




-----Original Message-----
From: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
[mailto:ARSCLIST@xxxxxxx] On Behalf Of David S Sager
Sent: Wednesday, May 25, 2005 4:12 PM
To: ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Vermin

I know a cylinder collector who puts the cotton lined boxes in the
microwave for a few seconds- for whatever that's worth.

ds

>>> nauck@xxxxxxxxx 05/25/05 4:07 PM >>>
Hello ARSClisters

First of all, I want to thank you all for your detailed responses to my
earlier query regarding signal processing software. As expected, there
was
no consensus of opinion, but it gave me much to think about!

Now I would like to ask another question.

Many of you work in archives or collections where you have a lot of
paper.
So do I (books, magazines, sleeves, cylinder boxes, etc.), and I am
having
a problem with silverfish and other assorted invertebrate friends.
Because
I am constantly moving in new collections, I regularly introduce pests
into
my building. I also have carpeting, which can harbor bugs.

What do archives do to combat this problem?
Do you spray or fog, how often do you do it, and what chemicals do you
use?
Do you try to protect the top edge of sleeved records when fogging, or
do
you find that the pesticide does not affect the shellac or vinyl?
Do you put any sort of repellant (like mothballs) inside boxes or
cabinets?
How do you prevent new accessions from contaminating the rest of your
facility?

Kurt & Diane Nauck

c/o Nauck's Vintage Records
22004 Sherrod Ln.
Spring, TX  77389

Website: www.78rpm.com 
E-Mail: nauck@xxxxxxxxx 

Phone: (281) 288-7826
Fax: (425) 930-6862