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The American Association of State and Local History recently sponsored a mobile damage assessment and response team that toured the coast region of Mississippi providing assistance to twelve libraries and museums. Members of the September 22-29 team were Joy Barnett, Texas Association of Museums, Ashley Barnett, Fire and Rescue, Burnet, TX, Randy Silverman, University of Utah and Gary Frost University of Iowa. Among our observations were some factors that influenced, for good or ill, the mold damage to collection materials. There were item housing or enclosure factors, building factors and behavioral factors.
As contrasted with adjoining paper enclosures, Tyvek envelopes nurtured mold bloom of their contents. Glazed exhibit cases nurtured extensive mold as contrasted with the condition of adjoining materials that were not cased. Glazed wall mounted materials were also at high risk. In general, item labeling on boxes or in tabular exposure, was more at risk for mold bloom and damage than the enclosed items. We advised that soaked items should not be spread out directly on polyethylene covered assembly platforms. A wicking under-layment is needed to prevent an interface for mold bloom.
Materials stored in rooms with only a single access are difficult to ventilate. A useful approach is to evacuate items from the lowest shelves producing an air circulation route. Plywood hurricane board-ups remained in place inhibiting building ventilation. Following flooding, these could be unscrewed and levered opened at the bottom. The historical, top hinged storm louver is an admirable design in this regard; enabling quick sealing and subsequent quick ventilation. After four weeks without electricity, ecologies of building interiors mirror those of outdoors except that interiors are dark and still. To inhibit mold, sunlight and shore breezes are needed.
An inappropriate “germ theory” was generally applied to prevent mold propagation. While ventilation and drying is needed to arrest mold bloom, staff behavior frequently resulted in isolation and even discard of molded materials to prevent “contamination” of undamaged materials. It should be emphasized that ventilation will “kill” and will not “spread” mold. Zip-lock bags were occasionally used to isolate moldy books, further nurturing the bloom.
We also had a few general observations. Evidentially, salt water inhibits mold activity as is indicated by masses of materials that remained moist, but unblemished by mold bloom four weeks after the flooding. Where mold bloom is present, the responding preservation workers should exemplify the safe handling and processing of moldy materials. Historical and antiquarian archives which are preferentially attacked by mold could also be preferentially neglected or undiscovered during evacuation of undamaged collections.
Following appropriate permission we will be happy to share assessments and photo documentation.
Gary Frost
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