Mold

Bob Muens <bob<-a t->flakeysol< . >com> writes

>I would like input from anyone out there, especially those of you in
>the tropics, who have any ideas about or experience in minimizing
>the risk of mold growth.

Just before Christmas I was in Cameroon advising on a mouldy
archive.

I identified one room in the building to be a repository, more
sealed and sheltered than the others, and am hoping to fit a
dehumidifier and air conditioner--exact types to be decided. (All
irremovable wood is being varnished as a discouragement to insects)

However, Todays Homespun Top Tip is:

We are getting a food vacuum-packer which takes bags around A4. The
bags may not be archival polyester, but importantly they and the
equipment are cheaply available locally. Master copies of important
documents and back-up floppy discs will be going into these. Any
books not in regular use will follow, I hope.

Of course, occasionally they must come out, but can easily be
re-bagged. The hope is that if they are bagged in a cool room,
moisture will be reduced, and insects and fresh mould spores will be
excluded.

Watch this space for success report. Comments or expressions of alarm more
than welcome,

Mark Clarke
London
+44 941 101 251

                                  ***
                  Conservation DistList Instance 10:73
                Distributed: Tuesday, February 18, 1997
                       Message Id: cdl-10-73-009
                                  ***