[PADG:135] Re: Climate Control Systems

[Annie Armour <aarmour@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Mary Ellen,

We have a Leibert in our Special Collections. Part of the unit is inside 
the room itself (the rest outside), and it leaks a nasty black oily product 
at times. It's also very ugly. It probably is a great machine that could be 
cleverly disguised, but is not well maintained, and thus has problems. Is 
your physical plant staff attentive to such things?

Not enough attention was paid to the air circulation patterns when it was 
installed, so we still get mold in the room in some areas. The humidity 
monitor was placed inside the air return, so does not always give accurate 
readings. Before we had it, though, the humidity fluctuated every day the 
same as the outside, which as you know, can be wild in Tennessee (I'm in 
Sewanee). Our mold problems in that room can be kept in check with fans. 
Just a couple of things you might want to watch.

I will say that whatever unit we got has a difficult time keeping very 
strict control over humidity. It works with the least fluctuation when set 
around 55% + or - 2%. Anything lower than that in summer stresses the 
system so that it usually breaks down in the hottest, most humid part of 
the season. I guess the jury is still out on whether or not larger (perhaps 
much larger) seasonal fluctuations are acceptable for books. My own 
unproved observations are that air circulation is more important than 
either temperature or humidity.

My recommendation-get a LIBRARY environmental consultant (like Michael 
Trinkley from Chicora) to come look over the situation before you decide 
what to do. Regular engineers are attuned to the needs of people, not books.

Annie Armour
University of the South
Sewanee, TN

At 12:12 PM 8/5/2004, you wrote:
> Dear Colleagues,
>
> At the University of Tennessee, we are planning to renovate our rare books 
> room to improve the environmental conditions.  I have a couple of 
> questions and am hoping some of you can offer advice and/or point me 
> toward some good sources of information.
>
> We are looking at climate control systems, such as a Liebert system.  Have 
> any of you been involved in the installation of such a system?  If so, do 
> you have any suggestions for the installation process, and can you make 
> any recommendations for specific systems or vendors?
>
> We are also looking at lighting.  We currently have fluorescent bulbs with 
> no filters.  Obviously, we need filters, but my colleagues here have asked 
> about switching to incandescent bulbs.  Is there any reason we should 
> replace the fluorescent lights with incandescent?  Also, can anyone 
> recommend a good source for UV filters for fluorescent bulbs?
>
> Thanks in advance for your response,
>
> Mary Ellen
>
> ____________________________
> Mary Ellen Starmer
> Preservation Coordinator
> University of Tennessee Libraries
> 1015 Volunteer Blvd.
> Knoxville, TN 37996-1000
> (865)974-5226
> starmer@xxxxxxx