[PADG:1443] re: PADG:1431 Vacuuming Books

[Lene Palmer <lenep@xxxxxxx>]

Dear Karen:

Thank you so much for your detailed information which I found very helpful.  I was looking for specific information like that and really appreciate you taking the time to supply me with all the details.  You were the only person to suggest a backpack model, and it was interesting to hear that the students liked them.  Most responses recommended the Nilfisk GM80, which is quite expensive, and among the several responses that suggested other brands, no two mentioned the same one.  We actually have four libraries, and I will recommend that we buy one Nilfisk for the main library, which has the most dust, and three less expensive ones for the others.

Thanks again for your very useful information.

All the best,
Lene

Karen E Brown wrote:

Dear Lene: The University at Albany purchased 4 Model #QPB73 Quiet Pro ProTeam vacuum cleaners in March of last year at a cost of $515/each. We bought them because they are very quiet and should be durable (they were designed for industrial use). These are packpack models that can be adjusted to fit whatever size student or staff person is using it. They are light (10 lbs, 6 oz). They have a low and high setting (low is just right for cleaning most books, CFM 74 with a sound level of 60.9 dB), and come with a standard attachment "kit" (aluminum wand, floor tools, crevice tools, etc.). It has a 50' extension cord. It is not HEPA but has a four level filtration system that claims to be 99.9% efficient at capturing particles that measure 1 micron or larger.

 

So far they've worked very well. The students actually seem to like them! They put plastic yellow warning signs at the end of each stack when they are cleaning, usually in teams of two, using the UCSD video "Cleaning Library Stacks" as their methodology. The important thing is make sure that each team cleans out the filters and puts the machine away properly at the end of their shift.

 

I hope this is helpful.

 

Best, Karen Brown/University at Albany Libraries