The Preservation and Protection of Library Collections: A Practical Guide to Microbiological Controls
By Bogdan Zerek
()
About this ebook
- Gives an overview of basic biological and environmental facts and their implications for library collections
- Informed by practical experience in the library situation
- Provides guidelines, requirements, procedures, workflow charts, regulations, and case studies
Bogdan Zerek
Bogdan Filip Zerek works for the National Library of Poland and since 2007 has been the head of the microbiology, disinfection and conservation of atypical objects section. He is also deputy head of the Conservation Department-Laboratory. With an MA in paper conservation and an MS in environmental biology, Bogdan is most active in the field of microbiological control, as a part of conservation and preservation measures for both single objects and whole collections. Bogdan has practical experience in daily Library routine, disaster response and scientific experimental research.
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The Preservation and Protection of Library Collections - Bogdan Zerek
The Preservation and Protection of Library Collections
A practical guide to microbiological controls
First Edition
Bogdan Filip Zerek
Table of Contents
Cover image
Title page
Copyright page
List of figures
List of tables
About the author
1: Introduction
Abstract
Introductory remarks
Who and how they may benefit from this book
The nature of library collections
The climate and its impact on microbiological conditions of the library collection
Biological factors
Overview of the book
How to use this book
2: Short mould review
Abstract
Statistics of moulds isolated at the National Library of Poland
Fungi from the National Library in experiments for my MSc thesis in Biology
Daily work with fungi in the National Library at the present day
A final comment on the presented quick methods of identification of the genera of moulds
Conclusions
3: Methods of microbiological control of the air
Abstract
Introduction
Methods
Fungi
Evaluation of the microbiological condition of the room – interpretation of the results
Counteractions
Conclusions
4: Methods of microbiological control of objects
Abstract
Evaluation and qualifying of objects for sampling
Sampling spots selection
Sampling – general
Impress sampling with sterile pieces of Whatman filtration paper
Sampling with swabs: transferring material from swabs to dishes with medium further work
Conclusions and results – classes of objects returned for regular activity
Disinfection of individual objects on the grounds of sampling results
Conclusions
5: Methods of disinfection
Abstract
The idea of disinfection
Disinfecting methods in Poland and other countries
Practical use of PCMC
Fungicidal efficiency of disinfection with PCMC in experiment
Disinfection with radiation
Practical use of ethylene oxide
Conclusions
6: Methods of microbiological control and evaluation of the collections
Abstract
Why I adapted the Stanford method selection approach
Selection of the objects
Objects evaluations, conclusions, recommendations and further action
Sample case study statistics of rooms and entire collections
Conclusions
7: Experiment on moulds and papers with application in conservation and preservation
Abstract
Introduction to a sample experiment
Defining procedure of experiment
The experiment
Results and conclusions
Discussion
The efficiency of the researched methods in practice and literature
Conclusions
8: Disaster response
Abstract
General consideration
Conclusions
9: Overall conclusions
10: Appendices
Appendix 10.1 The structure of the National Library of Poland
Appendix 10.2 Photo-manual of air sampling
Appendix 10.3 Photo-manual of contact sampling – general
Appendix 10.4 Photo-manual of contact sampling – impress
Appendix 10.5 Photo-manual contact sampling – swab
Appendix 10.6 Instruction defining the working time organization and use of Petri dishes by conservators (the library description of posts in conservation department) performing the microbiological analyses of the air and the objects in microbiological laboratory
Appendix 10.7 Supplementary (there is a producer’s one) instructions of operating the ethylene oxide disinfection chamber of the National Library of Poland
Activities not included in the producer’s manual of the disinfection chamber
Appendix 10.8 Exemplary equipment and installations for a microbiological laboratory
Appendix 10.9 The instructions of microbiological control of newly acquired objects coming to the National Library
Appendix 10.10 Procedure for evaluating microbiological conditions of the library or archival collections
Appendix 10.11 Procedure for the departments and other units of the National Library of transferring the objects for microbiological evaluation/sampling and conservation treatment
Appendix 10.12 Instructions defining the methods of running documentation of microbiological evaluation and sampling of objects in the DepartmentLaboratory for Conservation of the Library Collections according to the applicable Office Instruction of the National Library
Appendix 10.13 Chart of Microbiological Evaluation or Disinfection of the Object
Appendix 10.14 Instructions for preparation of Czapek-Dox medium for use in the Conservation Laboratory-Department of the Library Collections
Appendix 10.15 Creating procedures for immediate microbiological surveys of objects in the Krasiński Palace
Appendix 10.16 A few practical remarks, tricks and tips
11: Institutions, resources, links and addresses
The National Libraries
12.2 The National Archives
Other on-line resources
Glossary
References and further reading
Index
Copyright
Chandos Publishing
Elsevier Limited
The Boulevard
Langford Lane
Kidlington
Oxford OXS 1GB
UK
store.elsevier.com/Chandos-Publishing-/IMP_207/
Chandos Publishing is an imprint of Elsevier Limited
Tel: + 44 (0) 1865 843000
Fax: + 44 (0) 1865 843010
store.elsevier.com
First published in 2014
ISBN: 978–1–84334–759–0 (print)
ISBN: 978–1–78063–440–1 (online)
Chandos Information Professional Series ISSN: 2052-210X (print) and
ISSN: 2052-2118 (online)
Library of Congress Control Number: 2014938144
© B. F. Zerek, 2014
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data.
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the publisher. This publication may not be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise disposed of by way of trade in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published without the prior consent of the publisher. Any person who does any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.
The publisher makes no representation, express or implies, with regard to the accuracy of the information contained in this publication and cannot accept any legal responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions.
The material contained in this publication constitutes general guidelines only and does not represent to be advice on any particular matter. No reader or purchaser should act on the basis of material contained in this publication without first taking professional advice appropriate to their particular circumstances. All screenshots in this publication are the copyright of the website owner(s), unless indicated otherwise.
Typeset by RefineCatch Limited, Bungay, Suffolk
Printed in the UK and USA.
Printed in the UK by 4edge Ltd.
List of figures
2.1 Aspergillus ochraceus, 14-day-old colonies, Czapek-Dox medium, 10 cm dish, obverse 28
2.2 Aspergillus ochraceus, 14-day-old colonies, Czapek-Dox medium, 10 cm dish, reverse 29
2.3 Aspergillus versicolor, 14-day-old colonies, Czapek-Dox medium, 10 cm dish, obverse 30
2.4 Aspergillus versicolor, 14-day-old colonies, Czapek-Dox medium, 10 cm dish, reverse 31
2.5 Aspergillus versicolor, 14-day-old colonies, Czapek-Dox medium, 10 cm dish, obverse 32
2.6 Aspergillus versicolor, 14-day-old colonies, Czapek-Dox medium, 10 cm dish, reverse 33
2.7 Gliocladium catenulatum, 14-day-old colonies, Czapek-Dox medium, 10 cm dish, obverse 35
2.8 Gliocladium catenulatum, 14-day-old colonies, Czapek-Dox medium, 10 cm dish, reverse 36
2.9 Penicillium ochraceum, 14-day-old colonies, Czapek-Dox medium, 10 cm dish, obverse 37
2.10 Penicillium ochraceum, 14-day-old colonies, Czapek-Dox medium, 10 cm dish, reverse 38
2.11 Verticillium lamellicola?, 14-day-old colonies, Czapek-Dox medium, 10 cm dish, obverse 39
2.12 Verticillium lamellicola?, 14-day-old colonies, Czapek-Dox medium, 10 cm dish, reverse 40
2.13 Penicillium verrucosum var. cyclopium, 14-day-old colonies, Czapek-Dox medium, 10 cm dish, obverse 42
2.14 Penicillium verrucosum var. cyclopium, 14-day-old colonies, Czapek-Dox medium, 10 cm dish, reverse 43
2.15 Trichoderma harzianum, 14-day-old colonies, Czapek-Dox medium, 10 cm dish, obverse 44
2.16 Trichoderma harzianum, 14-day-old colonies, Czapek-Dox medium, 10 cm dish, reverse 45
2.17 Aspergillus awamori, 14-day-old colonies, Czapek-Dox medium, 10 cm dish, obverse 47
2.18 Aspergillus awamori, 14-day-old colonies, Czapek-Dox medium, 10 cm dish, reverse 48
2.19 Botryotrichum piluliferum, 14-day-old colonies, Czapek-Dox medium, 10 cm dish, obverse 49
2.20 Botryotrichum piluliferum, 14-day-old colonies, Czapek-Dox medium, 10 cm dish, reverse 50
2.21 Paecilomyces variotii, 14-day-old colonies, Czapek-Dox medium, 10 cm dish, obverse 51
2.22 Paecilomyces variotii, 14-day-old colonies, Czapek-Dox medium, 10 cm dish, reverse 52
2.23 Penicillium funiculosum, 14-day-old colonies, Czapek-Dox medium, 10 cm dish, obverse 53
2.24 Penicillium funiculosum, 14-day-old colonies, Czapek-Dox medium, 10 cm dish, reverse 54
2.25 Aspergillus terreus?, 14-day-old colonies, Czapek-Dox medium, 10 cm dish, obverse 56
2.26 Aspergillus terreus?, 14-day-old colonies, Czapek-Dox medium, 10 cm dish, reverse 57
2.27 Penicillium spinulosum, 14-day-old colonies, Czapek-Dox medium, 10 cm dish, obverse 58
2.28 Penicillium spinulosum, 14-day-old colonies, Czapek-Dox medium, 10 cm dish, reverse 59
2.29 Gliocladium catenulatum, 14-day-old colonies, Czapek-Dox medium, 10 cm dish, obverse 60
2.30 Gliocladium catenulatum, 14-day-old colonies, Czapek-Dox medium, 10 cm dish, reverse 61
2.31 Regular biological microscope for transmitted light and an open Petri dish 65
2.32 Penicillium sp. single colony, after 14 days, 9 cm dish, MEA medium, obverse 67
2.33 Penicillium sp. single colony, after 14 days, 9 cm dish, MEA medium, reverse 67
2.34 Penicillium sp. single colony, microscopic 68
2.35 Different Penicillium sp. colonies and an unidentified colony after 14 days, 9 cm dish, MEA medium, obverse 69
2.36 Different Penicillium sp. colonies after 14 days, 9 cm dish, MEA medium, reverse 70
2.37 Penicillium sp., one of the colonies 71
2.38 Botrytis sp., after 14 days, 9 cm dish, MEA medium, obverse 71
2.39 Botrytis sp., after 14 days, 9 cm dish, MEA medium, obverse 72
2.40 Botrytis sp., microscopic observation shows a characteristic tree-like form of the ends of the conidiophores clustered conidia 73
2.41 Chaetomium sp. after 14 days, 10 cm dish, Sabouraud medium, obverse 73
2.42 Chaetomium sp. after 14 days, 10 cm dish, Sabouraud medium, reverse 74
2.43 Chaetomium sp., a very characteristic picture of the perithecia of the genus showing cullulolitic abilities 74
2.44 Scopulariopsis sp. after 14 days, 9 cm dish, MEA medium, obverse 75
2.45 Scopulariopsis sp. after 14 days, 9 cm dish, MEA medium, reverse 75
2.46 Scopulariopsis sp. looks similar to Penicillium sp. but the overall look of the colonies is powdery with no true green shades, varying from white to buff, brown and black 76
2.47 Growth after 14 days, 9 cm dish, MEA medium, obverse. Four colonies of hyphaceous fungi, one colony of bacteria or some yeast 76
2.48 The dark reverse of the middle colony suggests Cladosporium sp. Growth after 14 days, 9 cm dish, MEA medium, reverse 77
2.49 With no other information regarding the large white colony, only microscopic analysis of the fungus could give the answer 77
2.50 Probably Penicillium sp. and Aspergillus sp. of Aspergillus niger group. Growth after 14 days, 9 cm dish, MEA medium, obverse 78
2.51 Growth after 14 days, 9 cm dish, MEA medium, reverse 79
2.52 Presence of Penicillium sp. was confirmed, showing a typical view of the conidial head of Aspergillus sp. 80
2.53 Alternaria sp. is one of the fundamental genera for the normal and average mycoflora of the air. Growth after 14 days, 9 cm dish, Czapek medium, obverse 81
2.54 The hyphae of Alternaria sp. are not hyaline, but show different shades of brown. Growth after 14 days, 9 cm dish, Czapek medium, reverse 81
2.55 Alternaria sp. spores are septated, made of a few elements, like bricks 82
2.56 A single colony of Cladosporium sp.. Growth after 14 days, 9 cm dish, MEA medium, obverse 82
2.57 The dark reverse of the colony. Growth after 14 days, 9 cm dish, MEA medium, reverse 83
2.58 In microscopic observation, Cladosporium sp. may be problematic 83
2.59 Typical air sample dish with different Penicillium sp. colonies. Growth after 14 days, 9 cm dish, MEA medium, obverse 84
2.60 The hypothesis of Cladosporium sp. so far not disproved, the dark reverse. Growth after 14 days, 9 cm dish, MEA medium, obverse 84
2.61 Microscopic observation confirmed the hypothesis of Cladosporium sp. 85
2.62 Moderately clean air sample. Growth after 14 days, 9 cm dish, MEA medium, obverse. 85
2.63 Two colonies have dark reverse, a good step towards identification of Cladosporium sp.. Growth after 14 days, 9 cm dish, MEA medium, reverse 86
2.64 Cladosporium sp., identified on the basis of microscopic observation 86
2.65 Another microscopic view of Cladosporium sp. 87
2.66 Cladosporium sp., microscopic view 87
2.67 Another example of conflict and domination, starring Trichothecium sp. this time. Growth after 14 days, 9 cm dish, MEA medium, obverse, white background 88
2.68 The same dish photographed upon the black background for better demonstration of the Trichothecium sp. structure. Growth after 14 days, 9 cm dish, MEA medium, obverse, black background 88
2.69 Trichothecium sp. and two other colonies with dark reverse. Growth after 14 days, 9 cm dish, MEA medium, reverse, white background 89
2.70 Trichothecium sp. and two other colonies with dark reverse. Growth after 14 days, 9 cm dish, MEA medium, reverse, dark background 89
2.71 Characteristic microscopic view of Trichothecium sp. and its conidiophores, like dull-spiked clubs with short handles 90
2.72 Perfect development of a single Penicillium sp. colony. Growth after 14 days, 9 cm dish, MEA medium, obverse 90
2.73 Characteristic zonation is visible on reverse even. Growth after 14 days, 9 cm dish, MEA medium, reverse 91
2.74 Characteristic microscopic look of Penicillium sp. 91
2.75 Mostly different Penicillium sp. colonies but also 3 Cladosporium sp. Growth after 14 days, 9 cm dish, MEA medium, obverse 92
2.76 Different Penicillium sp. colonies and 3 Cladosporium sp. Growth after 14 days, 9 cm dish, MEA medium, reverse 92
2.77 Different Penicillium sp. colonies and 1 Cladosporium sp. Growth after 14 days, 9 cm dish, MEA medium, obverse 93
2.78 Different Penicillium sp. colonies and 1 Cladosporium sp. Growth after 14 days, 9 cm dish, MEA medium, obverse 93
2.79 There are few colonies of probably 1 Penicillium sp., but also probably 1 Cladosporium sp. Growth after 14 days, 9 cm dish, MEA medium, obverse 94
2.80 Since all the colonies of Penicillium sp. seem to be of the same age and of the same species, why did the one ‘capturing’ the Cladosporium sp. grow almost twice as large as the second largest one not neighbouring Cladosporium sp.? Growth after 14 days, 9 cm dish, MEA medium, reverse 94
3.1 Sampling tactics: a square room about 6 m × 6 m 118
3.2 Sampling tactics: a rectangular room 6 m × 10 m 118
3.3 Sampling tactics: a rectangular room 12 m × 20 m 119
3.4 Microbiological control of the air, storage rooms and dishes required for samples 124
3.5 The results (average values cfu/m³ for all micro-organisms) of the first 7-month (April to October 2011) cycle of microbiological air control 128
3.6 The results (average values cfu/m³ for all micro-organisms) of the second 7-month (January to July 2012) cycle of microbiological air control 128
3.7 Average (30 samples, 1 survey every month in 2008) cfu/ m³ values of the air on the third floor of main storage building compared with background samples taken 129
3.8 Average (30 samples, a survey every month in 2009) cfu/m³ values of the air on the seventh floor of main storage building compared with background samples 130
3.9 Average (30 samples monthly in 2010) cfu/m³ values in the air of the fifth floor of the main storage building compared with values of the atmospheric air 130
3.10 Average (30 samples monthly in 2011) cfu/m³ values in the air of the fourth floor of the main storage building compared with values of the atmospheric air 131
3.11 Average (30 samples monthly in 2012) cfu/m³ values in the air of the second floor of the main storage building compared with values of the atmospheric air 131
3.12 Sampling the outdoor air for background level data: the first height about 2.4 m 141
3.13 Sampling the outdoor air for background level data: the second height about 1.4 m 142
3.14 Sampling the outdoor air for background level data: the third height about 0.8 m 142
4.1 The Polish Journal of 1800 (private collection), an old print 146
4.2 The same old print, later page 146
4.3 The same object, with the same set of water and mould damage 147
4.4 The symptoms of infection disappear and the flooding in the top left corner (bottom left corner of the photograph) fades 147
4.5 One of the checkpoints of the codex object, control of the sides 148
4.6 Checking the other side, generally no signs of water or microbial activity, but the uncut edges of the pages collected dust for many years, so suggest sampling 148
4.7 The effects would suggest that the volume was kept standing on its bottom edge 149
4.8 Details of the pages from the previous photograph 149
4.9 The small dark spots and discolouration are usually carefully examined visually 150
4.10 A bad trend, due to permanent lack of space in almost every library, is to keep the books standing on their edges 150
4.11 Damaged elements of the book (mostly of the binding) become soft and ‘fluffy’ 151
4.12 Not a microbiological issue; Flooding with dark liquid and a piece of physical dirt 151
4.13 Small flooding with a thin liquid 152
4.14 The next page in the same object 152
4.15 One cause of damage or two different causes, but in the same place 153
4.16 Metal in paper, sizing agent, fat from printing, foxing or a would-be mould colony? 153
4.17 A similar situation as in the previous figure, but on a larger scale 154
4.18 The third situation of the same kind with the presence of a black deposit 154
4.19 A good look at the corners of the book cover and the end paper is mandatory here, but only to confirm that it is only the effect of binding the book in leather that releases some compounds, probably tannins 155
4.20 A characteristic old print with brownish discolouration appearing only in the printed parts of the pages 155
4.21 A close-up of the previous one 156
4.22 Sign of small flooding, but the colours are inverted, with the flooded area lighter than the unflooded area 156
4.23 Some small spots, but obviously with evidence of liquid activity and appearing in a group 157
4.24 Typical paperback 157
4.25 One of the photos from my reference collection for training in identification and preservation of photographic objects 158
4.26 The situation is clear, mandatory sampling 159
4.27 The object looks rather good, except something is wrong along the left edge of the photograph 160
4.28 Note that there is almost no evidence of water activity, so probably just the humidity of the environment rose above the limit allowing fungi to grow 161
4.29 Something went wrong in the upper part of the photo, but it could be some mistake or fault during processing 162
4.30 Evidence of water activity, sampling mandatory 163
4.31 Water activity, strange discolouration in the lower central part of the object, fire activity 164
4.32 View of the upper area of the reverse of the object confirms that this part should be sampled 165
4.33 A lot of examples of damage on one object 166
4.34 Close-up of the top area of the photograph, showing water (but I suspect moulds) did the work 167
4.35 Almost a microbiological case, but still interesting for a conservator 167
4.36 Reverse of the secondary support made of cardboard, far more resistant to humidity than emulsion, showing the limits of water activity 168
4.37 Handmade real estate map 169
4.38 Minor signs of flood 169
4.39 Letters from the neighbouring objects 170
4.40 Brownish spot, minor evidence of flooding, some old repairs 170
4.41 Remember the damaged elements of the binding of the book? A similar thing happens to corners of maps 171
4.42 The repairs, the remains of some binding medium, darker and more shiny around the replacement combined with evidence of water activity 171
4.43 A model of water activity evidence 172
4.44 Dirt or even mud that was carelessly wiped 172
4.45 Some old ‘repairs’ 173
4.46 In this repair, Japanese paper and probably starch paste were used 173
4.47 Very characteristic spots of some juice, wine, etc. 174
4.48 As in Figure 4.46, the darkened areas are an effect of contact with some pigments used on neighbouring objects 175
4.49 On the outer surfaces of the objects appear mostly: book binding in fabrics, the reverse of maps and the covering of boxes, enclosures, etc. 175
4.50 Some typical effects on fabrics 176
8.1 Pattern of contact samples in storage room 218 of the Department of Iconographic Collections 263
8.2 Pattern of contact samples in storage room 215 of the Department of Iconographic Collections 264
8.3 Pattern of contact samples in storage room 214 of the Department of Iconographic Collections 266
8.4 Pattern of contact samples in storage room 217 of the Department of Iconographic Collections 267
10.1 Sterile work is one of the fundamental rules applied in the microbiological laboratory 286
10.2 The wiping of the lid and headpiece (only the surfaces that will have contact) 287
10.3 Wiping the headpiece with removed lid 287
10.4 Mounting the headpiece onto the sampler, and placing the lid onto the headpiece 288
10.5 Preparation for taking the sample 288
10.6 The lid of the dish is removed, the head piece is placed on the sampler and rotated to lock 289
10.7 The lid of the dish should be put away in such a manner that it does not become contaminated 289
10.8 Both lids removed 290
10.9 Pre-set volume for this sampling was 50 litres, the dark rectangles below information on volume on the display are progress bar 290
10.10 Overview of personal protection 292
10.11 I use gloves very rarely, as conservators have better grip and control with bare hands 292
10.12 I usually wipe my hands as far as mid-forearm 293
10.13 You may change your gloves, as after several hours’ work in the laboratory your hands may sweat 293
10.14 Practical tips 294
10.15 Determining and documenting of the sampling spot 295
10.16 Another good hint for marking and documenting of sampling spots 296
10.17 At the start of my microbiological activity in the field of conservation I was able to bring a burner into the storage room and use it to sterilize the working tools by heating. Now I simply use a paper towel dampened in denatured alcohol or disinfectant, wipe the tools and wait a few seconds for it to evaporate 296
10.18 One of the rules of the microbiology faculty at the university was to dip and heat the glass spatula and the metal tools 297
10.19 When starting the sampling session of the impress contact sampling, rejects do not cost much, but may save work 297
10.20 Sometimes the thin ends of the tweezers miss each other and the piece of paper may flip and fall. Know how to control your tool 298
10.21 While pressing the sampling paper against the object, remember you use a metal tool, which is hard, but that most of the (generally) flat library and archival objects are soft (paper, parchment, photographic emulsion) or fragile (glass), and the sampling paper does not provide safe isolation 298
10.22 Flip the sampling paper and press it against the sampled object with the other side 299
10.23 Place the sampling paper upon the medium in the dish 299
10.24 Press the sampling paper to the medium in the dish with the tweezers. Make sure that the whole surface of the sampling paper touches the medium 300
10.25 After choosing the place for sampling, apply a ‘virtual’ square 5 cm × 5 cm – the area that will be sampled 301
10.26 Another solution is the mats with printed rulers or coordinates 302
10.27 Acquire the material by wiping the sampling material with a swab 302
10.28 Start in one corner of the sampling area and move to the other end of the same diagonal with a zigzag movement, making sure you have sampled the entire area 303
10.29 Repeat the sampling in directions perpendicular to the previous one 303
10.30 Swabs have a great advantage when used under ‘field conditions’ 304
10.31 The set of tools that inoculate the material from the swab onto the medium on the Petri dishes 305
10.32 With damp (alcohol) towel wipe table and hands 306
10.33 Set 4 ml value on your pipette. Remove the foil, remove the stopper, heat the mouth of the flask 306
10.34 Aspire 4 ml of distilled water. Remember that regular automatic pipettes have two steps of resistance 307
10.35 How to handle with one hand the pipette and the test tube at the same time 307
10.36 Heat the mouth of the test tube (as above with the flask); remember that in the other hand you have the pipette and the cap, that must not come into contact with anything and the solution must not drain from the tip 308
10.37 Release 4 ml of water into the test-tube, keeping the end of the tip by the wall to avoid splashing 308
10.38 Heat the mouth of the test tube, cap it, release the tip into the waste beaker 309
10.39 Loosen the cap of the swab so it comes off easily when you need it 309
10.40 Remove the cap of the test tube with your little finger (or little and ring fingers) of the other hand. Leave at least index and middle fingers free for a swab. Heat the mouth of the test-tube 310
10.41 Transfer the swab into the test tube 310
10.42 Keep the test tube open with a swab and its cap as close to the flame as possible. Sterilize the ends of the surgical scissors by dipping and burning. Remember to keep the metal cap in your leading hand 311
10.43 Place the test tube in a stand. Cut off the swab so it does not stick out from the test tube, to avoid trouble with closing the test tube. Leave the cap of the swab on the table, as the priority now is to close the test tube as soon as possible 311
10.44 Heat the mouth of the test tube 312
10.45 Close the test tube and place it in the stand. Dip and heat the scissors or leave them in the flask with alcohol if you are going to transfer other swabs. Find the cut-off cap of the swab and drop it into the waste beaker 312
10.46 Mix the swab with water in a vortex mixer for 30 seconds, so that the top level of the solution does not come closer than 2 cm from the edge of the test tube 313
10.47 Prepare the tweezers 313
10.48 Dip and heat the tweezers. Remove the cap from the test tube with the swab. Heat the mouth of the test tube 314
10.49 Catch the swab with the tweezers and lift it so the end can be gripped with your fingers 314
10.50 Press the head of the swab against the wall of the test tube to drain and release all of solution. Roll it and press again 315
10.51 Heat the mouth of the test tube 315
10.52 Close the test tube with a cap. Drop the swab into the waste beaker 316
10.53 Preparation of the dilutions 316
10.54 Aspire a 200 μl tip. While holding the pipette, remove the cap of the test tube of basic solution with small finger (or small and ring fingers). Heat the mouth of the test tube 317
10.55 Aspire 200 μl of the basic solution 317
10.56 Heat the mouth of the test tube. Close it and put back in the stand. Take the test tube for 1/10 dilution with 1.8 ml of sterile distilled water 318
10.57 Still holding the pipette, remove the cap. Heat the mouth of the test tube 318
10.58 Release the aspired 200 μl of basic solution into 1.8 ml of sterile distilled water. Heat the mouth of the test tube, close it, place it on the stand and eject the tip to the waste beaker 319
10.59 Now you have the basic solution (1/1, undiluted) and two dilutions: 1/10 and 1/100 320
10.60 You now have all the solutions on the dishes. But the liquid covers only a small area of the medium and if left this way, micro-organisms that could grow would do it there and the entire area of the quantitative sampling would fail. The solution must be spread over the entire surface of the medium 321
10.61 The spatula is hot now and direct use may have an impact on the micro-organisms in the solution on a medium. But a longer wait may decrease its sterility 321
10.62 Spread the solution on the medium 322
10.63 Dip and heat the spatula before and after using each dish 323
10.64 A set of six dishes (two repeats per each solution) for one swab 323
10.65 The cleaning of the room after sampling takes about 15 minutes 324
THE-LAST_ONE 430
List of tables
1.1 Air humidity ratio (g/kg) 14
2.1 The amount of isolated colonies on dishes from sampling of air in the rooms, with contact object samples and background (atmospheric) air 24
3.1 Microbiological sampling of the air, values of colonies and cfu/m³ for each sample 107
3.2 Average values in (cfu/m³) 108
3.3 Microbiological sampling of the walls and the covers of the books, values of colonies for each sample 110
3.4 Suggested conditions (close to ISO-11799 guidelines for paper objects) give the following water contents 113
3.5 2007–2011 Statistics of microbiological control of indoor air 115
3.6 First annual pattern of microbiological air control, divided by library units and floors in main storage building (C building) 117
3.7 Third floor of the storage building: 2008-2010 results 122
3.8 The 7-month pattern of microbiological air control, divided by library units and floors in main storage building (C building) 126
3.9 Twelve 7-month cycles create a 7-year-long macro-cycle 127
3.10 The amount of isolated colonies on dishes in air sampling of the rooms and atmospheric (background) air; the average values 134
3.11 Results for the floors of the storage building sampled all year long 139
4.1 Statistics of microbiological control of objects for years 2007–2011 181
5.1 Disinfection of objects in (or for) the National Library of Poland in years 1988–1992 189
5.2 Disinfection of the objects using PCMC at the National Library of Poland in years 1993–1999 190
5.3 Fungicidal efficiency of disinfection with PCMC, dependant upon the kind of paper and species of fungi 191
5.4 The following regulation was used in Poland for many years and changed in 2012 by removing the NDSCh (TLV-STEL) Regulation of the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy of the Republic of Poland of 29 November 2002, on the threshold limits of concentrations of harmful chemical and physical factors in the workplace 200
5.5 Converting tables (for temperature 20 °C) 201
5.6 Moulds and their mortality in the disinfection chamber (298-330 mg/dm³, exposition time 12–17 hours) 202
5.7 Fungicidal efficiency of disinfection with ethylene oxide, dependent upon the kind of paper and species of fungi 203
6.1 Sample evaluation table of a single volume in evaluation of the collections’ procedures 212
6.2 Sample object of the class 212
6.3 Sample object of the class 213
6.4 Sample object of the class 213
6.5 Presentation of the entire collection 214
6.6 Presentation of the entire collection regarding the final conclusions for further action with a supplementary criterion, presence of evidence of flooding and wet patches in equivocal cases 216
8.1 Room 215 – comparison of numbers of samples depending on observed growth of micro-organisms and outer material of enclosures 235
8.2 Room 218 – comparison of numbers of samples depending on observed growth of micro-organisms and outer material of enclosures 235
8.3 Room 214 – comparison of numbers of samples depending on observed growth of micro-organisms and outer material of enclosures 236
8.4 Room 217 – comparison of numbers of samples depending on observed growth of micro-organisms and outer material of enclosures 236
8.5 Results of indoor air sampling in the Krasin´ski Palace, 15 April 2010 237
8.6 Results of indoor air sampling in the Krasin´ski Palace, 30 April 2010 238
8.7 Results of indoor air sampling in the Krasin´ski Palace, 27 May 2010 239
8.8 Results of indoor air sampling in the main building on 31 May 2010 (storage room 1129), compared to storage rooms of the Department of the Cartographic Collections (neighbouring storage room 1129) on 8 June 2010 and storage room 0408 on 14 June 2010 239
8.9 Contact sampling in storage room 218 of the Department of Iconographic Collections 242
8.10 Contact sampling in storage room 215 of the Department of Iconographic Collections 247
8.11 Contact sampling in storage room 214 of the Department of Iconographic Collections 252
8.12 Contact sampling in storage room 217 of the Department of Iconographic Collections 257
8.13 Background (atmospheric air) sampled on both sides of the Palace in Krasin´ski Park and in Krasin´ski Square 261
8.14 Indoor air of storage room 214 262
8.15 Indoor air of storage room 217 262
8.16 Objects sampled in storage room 218 of the Department of Iconographic Collections 264
8.17 Objects sampled in storage room 215 of the Department of Iconographic Collections 265
8.18 Objects sampled in storage room 214 of the Department of Iconographic Collections 265
8.19 Objects sampled in storage room 217 of the Department of Iconographic Collections 267
8.20 Costs of use of the external disinfection chamber 271
8.21 Results of microbiological evaluation of large objects of the Department of Iconographic Collections 276
10.1 Basis for planning the time for activity per month. These are the percentage values of time that may be usedtogether with time values calculated for periodical reports 326
10.2 Pattern of the register of the 90 mm Petri dishes in use bper conservators performing the microbiological sampling of the objects on a current basis 330
10.3 Pattern of the table of post usage in time by the conservators performing the microbiological sampling of the objects 330
10.4 Pattern of the list/table of the dishes ordered 331
10.5 Disinfection system of the National Library of Poland 331
10.6 The dangerous agents 332
10.7 Summary (no furniture, installations, room adaptation, exploitation costs) 341
10.8 Registration of the object in the Auxiliary documentation 354
10.9 The Evaluation Chart of the Object 355
10.10 Office Instruction of the National Library 355
10.11 Home unit ordering the evaluation or disinfection 356
10.12 Auxiliary documentation – microbiological evaluation of the objects in the Conservation Laboratory-Department 357
10.13 Date of the Closing of the case and Comments 358
10.14 Chart of Microbiological Evaluation or Disinfection of the Object 358
10.15 Home unit ordering the evaluation or disinfection 360
10.16 Isolation of micro-organisms with the contact method (impress with sterile filtration paper) along with simultaneous sampling on the Sabouraud medium 361
About the author
Bogdan Filip Zerek gained his MSc in 2004, in Environmental Biology, specializing in Mycology, at the Faculty of Biology, University