Call the Preservation Librarian and/or members of the Disaster Response Team for assistance. Consult the "Emergency Procedures" list, which is posted _______________________________________________, for telephone numbers.
Turn off and unplug computers or other electrical equipment if wet.
The Building Supervisor and Preservation Librarian should consult with a Building Engineer, if possible, before proceeding with the following steps. The Building Supervisor is responsible for calling the Building Engineer. (See "Building Supervisors' Emergency Procedures", which is posted _______________________________________________, for telephone numbers.)
The Building Engineer should be asked to assist with the following:
Be aware of potential electrical hazards. If the main power needs to be turned off, fans should be run from generators to avoid fire or danger to staff.
2.1 General Considerations
In any flood, damage and loss are inevitable. Some materials will be permanently disfigured, whether cosmetically or structurally. The object of a salvage effort is to recover the collection as a whole, while minimizing damage. The Disaster Response Team should not spend too much time on single items or small groups of items at the expense of the collection.
2.2 High Priority Materials
If the disaster is widespread, or includes more than 4,000 items, immediately remove from the flood site high priority materials as identified in Section II "Collections Priorities".
Remove materials that are highly vulnerable to water damage. Immediate attention should be given to photographic materials, such as collodion wet plate negatives, ambrotypes, panotypes, or tintypes.
Wet materials printed on coated paper (shiny), should be frozen before the paper dries and should not be allowed to dry. The surface layer of the adhesives and other substances on coated paper can cause adjacent pages to bond together when wet. When this effect, which is known as "blocking", occurs it is virtually impossible to reverse. Pages will be permanently fused together and will be very difficult to separate. Vacuum freeze-drying is the most effective way to avoid blocking. See Appendix E for a list of vendors, which provide this service.
If mold has already developed, there is little likelihood that the material can be air dried, and it should be frozen immediately
2.3 Assessing the wetness of the materials
Remove the most saturated materials first. These are not only likely to be the ones most in need of attention, but since they hold substantial quantities of water, their removal will help a great deal to lower the ambient humidity at the flood site. The upper most or lower most shelves will be the wettest, depending on the source of the water.
The longer the books have been exposed to water, the more pronounced these indicators will become. The Preservation Librarian and members of the Disaster Response Team can provide advice on the assessment of wet materials. The following visual clues are good indicators of water content.
(1) Swelling of the textblock and binding
(2) Deformation of the binding
(3) Cockling of the paper or board
(4) Darkening of the color of the paper, cloth, or leather.
Swelling is an especially good indicator of the length of exposure. The various parts of the book will swell at different rates as it continues to absorb water. The textblock will swell the most and push out against the less expansive case and the sewing thread, which may even shrink. This results in a tendency for the spine to assume a concave configuration; the longer the book sits, the more concave it becomes. When sitting in a pool of water for a few days, some books swell to such an extent that the spine forms a tight backwards circle and the front board touches the rear board. Some tightly shelved books may swell to such a degree that they "walk" themselves off the shelves. Swelling will usually reach its peak after a few days.
2.4 Freezing
Detailed instructions for this procedure are provided in Appendix A.
When over 100 items are water damaged it is generally not practical to air dry these materials on-site. If this is the situation, the materials should be frozen as quickly and safely as possible. Proper freezing at very low temperatures will stabilize materials physically and chemically by preventing the development of mold; the further swelling of paper and boards; the bleeding of inks; and possibly the blocking of pages. Most importantly, freezing buys time, which allows one to plan the salvage effort sensibly, without having to operate under crisis conditions. Books and papers can be frozen indefinitely without damage.
3.1 Handling Procedures
Wet paper has very little strength and easily tears.
Do not attempt to open a very wet book. The pages of a wet book cling together and an attempt to open it may result in serious tears. Moreover, damage to the binding can occur. If the book is only damp, it is usually safe to open, though this is not necessary unless it is to be air dried.
Do not attempt to close a wet book that has been found lying open, as often happens when books walk off the shelves and fall into standing water. Such books are usually badly swollen and the pages may be temporarily fused together.
3.2 Mud, Silt, & Dirt
Generally it is not a good idea to attempt to remove mud or other debris at the flood site, but rather to allow them to dry and brush them off later. However, if the materials are extremely dirty or the contaminants are particularly noxious or toxic , it may be necessary to wash off the covers of the book before further treatment. This is best accomplished by holding the book closed and exposing the spine to a slow stream of water, with the fore-edge pointed down so that the water runs off the case without further wetting the paper. On occasion it may be necessary to wash contaminants from the paper itself, in which case extreme care should be taken. This task should be performed as quickly as possible. Books that have been washed should be frozen immediately. Rare materials, art on paper and other unique items may need to be treated in different manner. Please contact the Preservation Librarian for assistance with washing and advice on other methods used for removing debris.
3.3 Disbinding
In a small scale emergency when attention can be paid to individual items, it is on occasion, appropriate to remove the textblock from its case. This may be appropriate when the textblock is swelling severely and is being distorted by the case, or when mold has begun to grow in the case. Please contact the Preservation Librarian for assistance if you think that this needs to be done.
3.4 Drying Methods
If you need time to make decisions or remove large numbers of materials from the disaster site, books and documents should be frozen to reduce physical distortion and biological contamination. (See Appendix A for instructions)
Four methods for drying materials are summarized below. Detailed instructions are provided in the appropriate appendices at the back of this manual. Although vacuum thermal drying is an acceptable method for drying documents, it causes extreme distortion in books and coated papers almost always block with this procedure. Since other more effective methods are readily available, this process was not included. Please contact the Head of the Preservation Department for more information.
3.4.1 Air Drying (See Appendix B for instructions)
Air drying is a very time consuming, labor intensive operation, which is most suitable for small numbers (less than 100) of damp or slightly wet books or documents. It is seldom successful for drying coated paper, such as the sort of paper found in many art books or journals.
3.4.2 Dehumidification (See Appendix E for vendors)
Dehumidification is the newest method used to dry library materials and is appropriate for drying damp to moderately wet books, documents, equipment, and furnishings. Dehumidification must be initiated within 24 hours before swelling or mold develops. It should not be used for drying coated paper. Large commercial dehumidifiers are brought into the library with all collections, equipment, and furnishings left in place. Temperature and humidity can be controlled to the customer's specification. The advantage of this method is that materials can be dried in place on the shelf or in storage boxes. The time and expense of removing materials to a freezer or vacuum chamber are eliminated.
3.4.3 Freezer Drying (See Appendix E for vendors and Appendix G for location of nearest freezer)
This method is most successful with books and documents that are damp or moderately wet. It is important to freeze the materials as quickly as possible to reduce distortion and facilitate drying. Until the items are frozen through to the center, the freezer temperature should be -10 deg. F. or lower to encourage the formation of the smallest ice crystals. After this state has been achieved, the freezer temperature can be raised to around 0 deg. F. so that some drying can occur.
Home freezers are usually not cold enough to achieve rapid freezing, but may be used at the lowest possible temperature setting, if more suitable equipment is not available. Frost-free units are preferred since they will begin to dry the materials, albeit slowly.
Materials should be placed in the freezer as soon as possible after water damage has occurred. Books will dry best if their bindings are supported firmly to inhibit swelling. Manuscripts or unbound materials may be placed in the freezer in stacks or spread out for faster drying. In very large commercial freezers these materials may be left in their storage boxes, however, this will slow the drying process. Depending on the freezer temperature and the extent of the water damage, this method will take from several weeks to several months to dry materials.
3.4.4 Vacuum Freeze Drying (See Appendix E for vendors.)
Vacuum freeze drying is a commercial application of a physical phenomenon called "sublimation". Frozen materials are placed in a vacuum chamber. The collections are dried at temperatures below 32 deg. F. through a process called sublimation, in which ice crystals vaporize without melting.
This process is very effective in drying large quantities of wet books and paper records. Vacuum freeze drying will not cause additional distortion or swelling beyond that incurred before the materials were placed in the chamber. Coated paper will dry well if it has been frozen or placed into the chamber within 6-8 hours. Rare and unique materials can also be dried successfully with this method, but leather and vellum bindings may become distorted. It is also effective with water soluble inks and pigments. Vacuum freeze drying also lifts mud, dirt, and soot to the surface, making cleaning less time consuming.
Although this method may initially appear to be more expensive due to the equipment required, the results are often so satisfactory that additional funds for rebinding or recasing are often not necessary.
4.1 ART (Contact appropriate art conservator in Appendix D)
Paintings
Priority: Dry immediately
Handling: Drain & carry horizontally
Packing: Face up without touching painting layer
Drying: Air dry; Consult painting conservator
4.2 COMPUTER MEDIA (Contact Office Systems Services x42977)
Prevention is the best insurance against loss. Make backups & store off-site. Equipment may be damaged trying to copy contaminated tapes or disks. Contact the supplier before proceeding with the instructions below if possible. See Appendix D and Appendix E for consultants and vendors that specializes in salvaging computer media
Floppy Disks (5 1/4") and Flexi Disks (3 1/2")
Priority: Dry immediately
Handling: Do not touch disk surface with bare hands
Packing: Contact supplier for best method
Drying: Please follow these instructions
1. Cut edge of jacket with non-magnetic scissors for floppy disks or pry open plastic disk cover for flexi disks
2. Remove disk with gloved hands
3. Wash in several photo trays of distilled water
4. Dry with lint free towels
5. Insert into new jacket or disk cover and copy
Tapes
Priority: Dry immediately
Handling:
Packing:
Drying: Please follow these instructions to air dry:
1. Rinse tapes in cold distilled water.
2. Support vertically
3. Clean by winding against a felt pad.
4. Copy tape and discard damaged original
Consult with manufacturer. See Appendix D and Appendix E for a list of consultants and vendors that specialize in salvaging microforms.
Diazo Fiche
Priority: Last
Handling:
Packing: In drawers or cartons
Drying: Air dry
Jacketed Microfilm
Priority: Freeze or dry within 72 hours
Handling:
Packing: Keep wet inside a container lined with garbage bags until drying can begin.
Drying: Air dry
Microfilm Rolls
Priority: Rewash and dry within 72 hours
Handling: Do not remove from boxes; hold cartons together with rubber bands.
Packing: Fill boxes with water and pack (in blocks of 5) in a cardboard box lined with garbage bags.
Drying: Arrange for a microfilm processor to rewash & dry within 72 hours; label box "Wet Film".
Call the Kodak Company or Image Permanence Institute for best advice. These and other specialists in photographic conservation are listed in Appendix D and Appendix E.
Aperture Cards
Priority: Freeze or dry within 48 hours
Handling:
Packing: Keep wet inside a container line with garbage bags
Drying: Air dry
Daguerreotypes
Priority: Dry immediately; Contact Professional Conservator
Handling: Keep face up; Do not remove from case
Packing: Per instructions of Photographic Conservator
Drying: Per instructions of Photographic Conservator
Motion Pictures
Priority: Rewash and dry within 72 hours
Handling:
Packing: Fill film cans with cold water and pack in plastic pails or cardboard cartons with garbage bags. Black and white negative film can remain in water up to 3 days without damage; Color negative or positive film can remain in water only 48 hours without damage.
Drying: Arrange for film processor to rewash and dry
Prints, Negatives, and Transparencies
Priority: Freeze or dry within 72 hours; Salvage in this order: (1) color photographs; (2) prints; (3) negatives and transparencies
Handling: Do not touch emulsions with bare hands
Packing: Keep in cold water; Pack in containers lined with garbage bags.
Drying: Order of preference:
1. Air dry flat, emulsion side up
2. Air dry hung on clothes lines; do not clip image area
3. Freeze, then air dry
4. Vacuum freeze dry
Nitrates with Soluble Emulsions
Priority: Immediately freeze
Handling: Do not blot
Packing:
Drying: Air dry
Slides
Priority: Remove slide from cardboard mounts immediately
Handling: Do not touch emulsion
Packing:
Drying: Air dry and re-mount
Wet Collodion (ambrotypes, tintypes, panotypes, wet collodion negatives)
Priority: Recovery rate is low; dry immediately
Handling: Handle with care -- glass supports or glazing
Packing: Horizontally in padded container
Drying: Air dry face up; Never freeze
4.5 SOUND AND VIDEO RECORDINGS
See Appendix D and Appendix E for a list of consultants and vendors specializing in the salvages of sound and video recordings.
Audio Cassettes
Priority:
Handling: Do not put excessive weight on sides of reels or cassettes
Packing: Pack vertically in boxes or milk crates
Drying: Air dry if no master copies exist
Copy onto new cassette; Equipment may be ruined trying to play contaminated cassettes
Phonodiscs
Priority:
Handling: Handle discs by the edges and support discs vertically.
Packing: Transfer discs (up to 5 at a time) to boxes or milk crates
Pad containers and interleave with foam every 25 discs.
Drying: Remove discs from sleeves and jackets
Identify with wax crayon if label separated
Dry labels, sleeves, and jackets as other paper materials.
If discs dirty, wash in 10% solution of Kodak Photoflo in distilled water. Wash shellac, acetate and vinyl discs in separate containers.
Support discs vertically to air dry
Reel to Reel Tapes
Priority:
Handling:
Packing:
Drying: Air dry; Dry box as other paper materials or replace if badly damaged
Video Cassettes
Priority:
Handling:
Packing: Pack vertically in boxes or milk crates; do not put excessive weight on sides of reels or cassettes
Drying: Call consultant or vendor listed in Appendix D and Appendix E.
The Preservation Librarian will consult with the appropriate Bibliographer about options for salvage and restoration of damaged materials if possible. Since wet materials may need immediate treatment, there may not be time to do this until after materials are stabilized.
The Preservation Librarian will contact appropriate vendors or conservators to determine the following:
The Preservation Librarian will contact the ULS Associate Director for approval, before contracting with a vendor or conservator.
The ULS Associate Director will contact Risk Management, if necessary.
Once the vendor has been approved, the Preservation Librarian will contact the appropriate ULS staff members to arrange for a purchase order and shipping.
A note will be placed in the Notis record to indicate that the material has sent out for preservation work.
If the material is microfilmed a catalog record will be created for the microfilm copy. If a preservation photocopy is made, this copy will be added to the NOTIS record.
COLLECTION PRIORITIES
The following collections/items should be protected, removed, or salvaged in the event of a major collection related emergency. These locations are identified on a map of the library at the end of this section.
Collection/Item Location
(Listed in priority order)
This section should be completed by Collections Management and other appropriate ULS staff members.
PREVENTATIVE AND PROTECTIVE MEASURES
This section should describe activities taken to prevent or minimize damage to collections. These include accessing the library's vulnerability to disasters and taking steps to prevent or reduce the impact of disasters. A "Disaster Prevention Checklist" should be developed to survey each library.
PACKING WET MATERIALS FOR FREEZING OR TRANSFER OFF-SITE
1. Contact the Preservation Librarian or a member of the Disaster Response Team for assistance with this procedure. (Consult the "Emergency Procedures" list, which is posted _______________________________________________, for telephone numbers.
2. Standard size record or book boxes (12" x 15" x 10" or 1 cu. ft. ) are suitable for packing most materials. It is important that boxes be the same size for moving and cost estimates. Consult Appendix F for the location of boxes in your library or suppliers for obtaining them. When using metal or plastic milk crates place cardboard between the container and contents to avoid transfer of the container's design.
3. Wrap each volume in wax or freezer paper to prevent sticking. (Rough cut wax or freezer paper to approximate size and fold in a U-shape around the case.)
4. Pack books in a single row with the spine down. If this is not possible, pack them flat. In this case, it is important that a large book never be placed on top of a smaller one, because the large one will sag and become permanently deformed. Never pack books in a standing position or with fore edge down because the weight of the wet paper will pull the textblock out of its case.
5. Books will tend to permanently take on their shape at time of freezing. Please do not attempt to mold misshapen books without consulting a member of the Disaster Response Team or the Preservation Department. Excessive attempts to bend or fold the book may cause greater damage and result in a volume that is difficult to repair.
6. Keep an inventory of the contents of each box. Label boxes with call number ranges.
7. Stack boxes on pallets, no more than three cartons high to avoid collapse of boxes. Milk crates can be stacked higher than boxes. However, since wet books are very heavy even milk crates should not be stacked more than three feet high.
8. Code boxes to identify location of materials requiring special treatments.
9. Books that have been swollen open should not be closed. Instead they should be packed in their own carton. Similarly, books that have stuck together should not be separated, but wrapped as a unit and packed together.
10. The locations of available freezer space on campus are listed in
Appendix G. This appendix also lists freezer companies
located in Pittsburgh. For a list of conservators and vendors
specializing in recovery of damaged materials se
e Appendix D and Appendix E.
PROCEDURES FOR AIR DRYING WET BOOKS
Air drying is most suitable for small numbers of books that are damp or water damaged only around the edges. It is a very labor intensive process that can result in extra expenses for rebinding. Consider alternative methods outlined in 3.1.4 in the "Salvage of Water Damaged Materials" section if there are more than 100 books to dry ; if the books are extremely wet; or if the books are printed on coated (shiny) paper.
Once the books are wet they will develop mold and can suffer structural distortion within 24-48 hours, so it is important to move quickly. The longer the drying period, the greater the distortion. It is also important to remember that wet paper is very fragile and easily torn.
Equipment
Long tables or flat surfaces for drying
Unprinted paper towels (for interleaving)
Towels or blotting paper (to line tables & removes water that drains from the materials)
Fans & extension cords
Procedure
1. Secure a clean, dry environment where the temperature and humidity are as low as possible. Ideally the temperature should be below 70 deg. F. and the relative humidity below 50% to prevent mold growth and distortion.
2. Line the tables with towels or blotting paper to absorb water dripping from the books.
3. Stand books up on flat surface and fan open slightly. Interleave volumes with paper towels every 20 leaves or so. A sheet should be placed between the cover and textblock at front and back. The paper should not be placed all the way into the fold because the buildup at the spine may cause damage to the binding. The interleaving should extend past the edges of the book at the head (if book set on its tail) and fore edge, but not at the tail. Do not attempt to open pages that are stuck together.
4. Place fans in such a way that they keep the air moving gently over all of the volumes without blowing them over. Sometimes this can be best accomplished by using large, powerful fans and placing them at a considerable distance from the books. The fans must be left on around the clock until the drying is complete.
5. As the interleaving papers become saturated with water, replace them with fresh paper. The new towels should be inserted in different location throughout the volumes. Turn the book upside down when replacing interleaving. When the books are very wet, the interleaving will become saturated almost immediately and as soon as you finish interleaving a small group of books, it will be time to start all over again. When interleaving papers cease to be wet and but are merely damp, it is no longer necessary to replace the interleaving. Unless the interleaving paper is stained it can be reused once it has dried.
6. Books with coated paper should be interleaved between every page to avoid blocking.
7. When the pages feel dry in the center of the volume, remove all the interleaving. It may take a couple of days for very wet books to reach this condition. Allow the book to continue air-drying with fans for several days until completely dry. Paper can hold substantial quantities of water and still feel dry to the touch. Use moisture meter to check if uncertain.
8. After drying, bound volumes should be flattened by placing them in a press or under heavy weight.
9. Please contact the Preservation Librarian for advise on books with damaged covers or distorted textblock. The Preservation Department may be able to repair these in-house or they may be sent to the commercial bindery.
PROCEDURES FOR AIR DRYING MANUSCRIPTS AND UNBOUND MATERIALS
Flat materials, such as manuscripts, typescripts, prints, drawings, blueprints, etc. exhibit somewhat wider variability of materials and production methods than printed books. As a result, problems with soluble media (bleeding inks, etc) and blocking of paper are common. Inks may dissolve and offset onto adjacent materials. Such staining will frequently be permanent and irreversible.
Air drying is most suitable for small numbers of unbound materials, which are damp or water damaged only around the edges. If there are hundreds of single pages; the paper is coated; inks are soluble; or the water damage is severe, other methods of drying would probably produce better results and be more cost effective.
Wet paper is extremely fragile and easily torn or damaged, so care must be exercised. It is also important to remember that this process will not restore materials to their original condition. Contact the Preservation Librarian for assistance in performing this procedure, as it can cause a great deal of damage if not done correctly.
Equipment
Long tables or flat surfaces for drying
Unprinted paper towels or blotting paper (to line tables & removes water that drains from the materials)
Fans & extension cords
Clothes lines & clothes pins
Sheets of polyester film (mylar)
Sprayer or sponge
Procedure
1. Secure a clean, dry environment where the temperature and humidity are as low as possible. Ideally the temperature should be below 70 deg. F. and the relative humidity below 50% to prevent mold growth and distortion.
2. Line the tables with towels or blotting paper to absorb water dripping from the materials.
3. Use fans to keep the air moving at all times and should be left on until the drying process is complete. This will accelerate the drying process and discourage mold growth. The fans should be directed into the air and away from the drying materials.
4. Place single sheets on flat surfaces or on clotheslines.
5. Sheets can be separated by using the following procedure. It is necessary to do this for materials on coated paper.
6. If the materials are damaged, reformatting options, such as microfilming or photocopying should be considered.
PRESERVATION EXPERTS AND CONSERVATION CENTERS
The following is a list of individuals and institutions that specialize in salvaging, restoring, and reformatting damaged library materials. Although many of those listed below are members of the American Institute for Conservation of Art & Historic Works (AIC) the Guild of Book Workers, and the American Library Association (ALA) their inclusion here does not imply endorsement. For more information contact the Preservation Librarian. See Section I.5 for procedures on contracting with a conservator or vendor.
The codes preceding each entry summarize the specialization of each individual or institution, according to the following key:
American Institue for Conservation of Historic & Artistic Works (AIC) Foundation of AIC (FAIC) Conservation Services Referral System 1717 K St., NW Suite 301 Washington, DC 20006 tel: 202/452-9545 fax: 202/452-9328 Expertise: AIC is a professional organization of book, paper, and art conservators. The FAIC Conservation Services Referral System will assist individuals in locating and selecting professional conservators of architectural materials; archaeological objects; books and paper; photographic materials; paintings; sculpture; textiles; and wooden artifacts. The System provides users with an informational brochure and a computer-generated list of conservation professionals to meet their specific needs.
Wendy Bennett Paper Conservator 1107 Goodman St. Pittsburgh, PA 15218 tel: 412/243-7064 Expertise: Salvage and restoration of paper, art, and oriental screens and scrolls.
Boris Brindar ARTS 5906 Bryant St. Pittsburgh, PA 15206 tel: 412/363-4948 Expertise: Salvage and restoration of paintings.
Sally Buchanan Associate Professor University of Pittsburgh School of Library and Information Science, Rm. 650 Pittsburgh, PP 15260 tel: 412/486-3508 (w) or 412/624-9447 (h) e-mail: sb@lis.pitt.edu Expertise: Disaster response and recovery.
The Carnegie Museum of Art William Real Chief Conservator 4400 Forbes Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15213 tel: 412/622-3267 Expertise: Salvage and restoration of paintings.
Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts 264 South 23d Street Philadelphia, PA 19103 tel: 215/545-0613 Expertise: Regional conservation center, which specializes in the salvage, restoration, and reformatting of books, paper materials, and art.
Christine Daulton PO Box 3428 Greensburg, PA 15601 tel: 412/832-9349 Expertise: Salvage and restoration of paintings.
Paul Edwards 65 Dewey Ave. Washington, PA 15301 tel: 412/222-4400 Expertise: Salvage and restoration of paintings.
Don Etherington President, Conservation Division Information Conservation Inc. 6204 Corporate Park Drive Brown Summit, NC 27214 tel: 919/375-1202 Expertise: Salvage, restoration, and reformatting of paper and books, photographic media, and works of art on paper.
Guild of Book Workers, Inc. 521 Fifth Ave. New York, NY 10175 tel ? Expertise: Professional organization of book conservators.
Image Permanence Istitute Rochester Institue of Technology Frank E. Gannet Building PO Box 9887 Rochester, NY 14623-0887 tel: 716/475-5199 Expertise: Salvage and restoration of photographs.
Mary Catharine Johnsen Special Collections Librarian Carnegie Mellon University Hunt Library Pittsburgh, PA 15213 tel: 412/268-6622 Expertise: Disaster response and recovery.
Sue Kellerman Preservation Librarian E506 Pattee Library The Pennsylvania State University University Park, PA 16802 tel: 814/865-1858 e-mail: lsk@psulias.bitnet Expertise: Disaster response and recovery.
Library of Congress National Preservation Program Office LM-G07 Washington, DC 20540 tel: 202/707-1840 Expertise: Information on salvage, restoration, and reformatting of books and paper.
National Archives & Records Administration Conservation Lab NNPD Room B-1 Washington, DC 20408 tel: 202/501-5630 Expertise: Information on salvage, restoration, and reformatting of archival material.
National Center for Film and Video Preservation 2021 North Western Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90027 tel: 213/856-7637 Expertise: Information on salvage, restoration, and reformatting of film and video.
Northeast Document Conservation Center 100 Brickstone Square Andover, MA 01810-1428 tel: 508/470-1010 Expertise: Regional conservation center, which specializes in the salvage, restoration, and reformatting of books, paper materials, and photographs.
Charlotte Tancin Librarian and Research Scholar Hunt Institute for Botancial Documentation Cargnegie Mellon University Frew Street Pittsburgh, PA 15213 tel: 412/268-7301 e-mail: ctou@andrew.cmu.edu Expertise: Disaster response and recovery.
The Textile Conservation Workshop, Inc. Main Street South Salem, NY 10590 tel: 914/763-5805 Expertise: Salvage and restoration of textiles.
Williamstown Regional Art Conservation Laboratory, Inc. Clark Art Institute 255 South Street Williamstown, MA 01267 tel: 413/458-5741 Expertise: Salvage and restoration of paintings, works of art on paper, photographs, non-western art, furniture, murals, and frescoes.
DISASTER RECOVERY SERVICES (Listed alphabetically by vendor)
Except, as noted these companies can provide comprehensive recovery services and a great deal of advice in the event of a disaster. Most can be reached by phone 24 hours a day. This list is not exhaustive and does not constitute an endorsement of the vendors on it.
For more information on specific vendors and processes, please contact the Preservation Department. See Section I.5 for information on contracting with vendors.
The codes preceding each entry summarize the specialized services and formats of each vendor, according to the following key:
American Freeze Dry, Inc. 411 White House Pike Audubon, NJ 08106 tel: 609/ 546-0777 Contact: John Magill Services: Vacuum freeze drying; -20 deg. F storage. This company deals primarily with books and paper. They can provide milk crates, pick-up and delivery, cleaning of materials, smoke odor removal.
BMS Catastrophe, Inc. 303 Arthur Street Fort Worth TX 76107 tel: 800 433-2940 or 817/ 332-2770 Services: (1) Disaster recovery; (2) Odor removal; (3) Vacuum freeze drying; (4) Fumigation.
M.F. Bank Restoration Company 6659 Peachtree Industrial Blvd. Suite AA Norcross, GA 30092 tel: 800 843-7248 Services: (1) Dehumidification; (2) Drying; (3) Smoke & odor removal; (4) fumigation; M. F. Bank has other regional offices; for more information, contact the Norcross office.
Blackmon-Mooring-Steamatic Catastrophe, Inc. 303 Arthur Street Fort Worth, TX 76107 tel: 800 433-2940 fax: 817/332-6728 Contact: Pat Williams Moore Services: (1) Salvage of computer and other magnetic media; (2) Drying, cleaning, and deodorizing of buildings and contents. They will give advice over the phone.
Cargocaire Moisture Control Services 85 Fulton Str. Unit 9D Boontoon, NJ 07005 tel: 201/625-7458 Contact: Everett Berger Services: (1) Dehumidification; (2) Air drying books and manuscripts.
Document Reprocessors of New York 5611 Water Street Middlesex, NY 14507 tel: 800-437-9464 or 716-554-4500 fax: 716-554-4114 Contact: Eric Lundquist or Quentin Schwartz Services: (1) Vacuum Freeze Drying; (2) Salvage of computers; They will come to the site to inventory and help pack materials to be taken to their facility; They also have a mobile freeze-drying unit and provide various other combinations of services, including barcoding and reshelving.
Film Treat 42-24 Orchard St. Long Island City, NY 11101 tel: 718/784-4040 Contact: Sam Borodinsky Services: (1) Washing and drying of motion picture film. Nationwide service.
Graham Magnetics, Inc. 4001 Airport Freeway Suite 400 Bedford, TX 76021 tel: 817/868-5000 Contact: Kevin Burton Service: Disaster recovery of computer media.
Eastman Kodak Company tel: 800 242-2424 Service: Salvage and restoration of photographs.
McDonnel Aircraft Co. PO Box 516 St. Louis, MO 63166 Contact: Fred Brodbeck or Jim Williford tel: 314/234-0763 (Fred Brodbeck) or 314/233-4697 (Jim Williford) Services: Vacuum freeze drying if space is available.
Munters Moisture Control Services 15 Freeport St. Delmont, PA 15626 tel: 412/468-0066 or 800 359-9337 (PIN 0295) fax: 412/468-0075 Contact: Keith Morgan Services: (1) Water pumping and vacuuming; (2) Drying of floors, walls, insulation, and furnishings; Cost estimates are provided after an evaluation of the damage.
Tom Parker Pest Control Services 44 West Essex Avenue Lansdown, PA 10950 tel: 215/284-6249 Services: (1) Pest control; (2) Mold recovery.
Preservation Resources (formerly MAPS) Nine S. Commerce Wau Bethlehem, PA 18017-8916 tel: 800 773-7222 Contact: Meg Bellinger Services: Washing and duplicating of 16mm, 35mm and 105 mm silver roll microfilm.
Randomex, Inc. Data Recovery Division 1100 East Willow St. Signal Hill, CA 90806 tel: 213/595-8301 Services: Disaster recovery of computer media.
RE-Oda Chem Engineering Co. POB 424 Chagrin Falls, OH 44022 tel: 216-247-4131 Contact: Skip McLaughlin Services: Cleaning, smoke order removal and restoration of fire damaged materials; Their process, called "Booksave", is proprietary and can only be recommended for use with general collections. They do not handle wet books. They can provide boxes and labels and will pay freight charges on orders of 500 books or more.
Restoration Technologies 3005 Hadley Road South Plainsfield, NJ 07080 tel: 800-421-9290 fax: 201/755-7460 Services: Recovery of electronic data processing, radio & TV, magnetic tapes and floppy disks. Mobile laboratory brought to site.
Smolian Sound Studios 26801 Haines Road Clarksburgh, MD 20871 tel: 301/253-2703 Contact: Steve Smolian Services: Restoration and preservation of most audio media.
Solex Technologies 2700 Post Oak Blvd. Suite 1530 Houston, TX 77056 tel: 713/963-9405 Services: Disaster recovery.
SOS International 377 Oyster Point Blvd. Suite 19 South San Francisco, CA 94080 tel: 800 223-8597 Services: Disaster recovery.
Video Box Office 575 Boston Post Road Orange, CT 06477 tel: 203/878-0634 Contact: Ron Davis Services: Salvage and restoration of videotapes.
What's Happenin' Productions 4904 Western Avenue RD 2, Box 270 Altamont, NY 12009 tel: 518/355-5888 Contact: Tom Quaglieri Services: (1) Copying of damaged videotapes; (2) Drying of 16 mm, 8 mm, and Super 8 film.
DISASTER SUPPLIES & EQUIPMENT INVENTORY
This inventory should be completed by each departmental library and should be revised when needed or once a year.. Funding for disaster supplies will come out of the ULS Administration budget and should be approved by the ULS Associate Librarian. Items preceded by an * are essential.
*Item: Boxes (approximately 12" x 15" x 10" or 1 cu. ft.) - for packing wet materials for freezing or transfer Location: 480 Hillman (Key in Preservation Department, 403 Hillman) Quantity: Supplier: *Item: Book Trucks Location: Quantity: Supplier: Item: Camera & Film Location: 264 HL (contact Greg McCormick) Quantity: 2 cameras & film Supplier: Item: Disinfectant - to wipe empty shelves to stop mold growth Location: Quantity: Supplier: Item: Dolly Location: Quantity: Supplier: *Item: Extension Cord Location: Preservation Department (403 HL) Quantity: Supplier: *Item: Fans (large, rotating) Location: Various & Supply Room , (G-55 HL) Quantity: 20+ 16" 3 speed oscillating fans Supplier: Contact Ed Bauer to order Item: Flashlights Location: Quantity: Supplier: Item: Gloves (plastic disposable or rubber) Location: Preservation Dept. (403 HL) Quantity: 100 plastic disposable Supplier: *Item: Knives (Utility or Zippy) - for cutting plastic sheeting Location: Preservation Department (403 HL) Quantity: Supplier: *Item: Masks NIOSH approved Respirator for Toxic Dust - use when working with moldy collections Location: Preservation Dept. (403 HL) Quantity: 8 Willson Half-Masks & 50 disposable masks (not NIOSH approved) Supplier: Labsafe, POB 1368, Janesville, Wi. 53547-1368 tel: 1-800-356-0783 *Item: Mops & buckets (Wet/Dry Vacs, see Appendix F) Location: Various Quantity: Supplier: *Item: Paper Towels (unprinted) - for air drying books Location: See Custodians Quantity: Supplier: Benedum Supply; Contact Ed Bauer to order *Item: Plastic Sheeting (4-6mm.) - Pre-cut to cover stacks Location: Ann Gordon's office (G-23 A Hillman) and Current Periodicals Room (401 Hillman) Quantity: Supplier: Contact Ed Bauer to order *Item: Plastic Sheeting (4-6mm.) -Pre-cut to cover computers Location: Quantity: Supplier: Contact Ed Bauer to order *Item: Respirators --See Masks *Item: Tape - for sealing boxes or securing polyethylene sheeting on book shelves Location: Preservation Department (403 HL) Quantity: Supplier: Premiere; Contact Ed Bauer to obtain *Item: Waterproof Pens - for marking contents of boxes Location: Quantity: Supplier: Premiere *Item: Waxed Paper or Freezer Wrap - to separate wet books for freezing Location: Quantity: Supplier: grocery store
EQUIPMENT TO BORROW OR RENT
The equipment listed below is available locally.
Item: Dehumidifiers
Vendor: Munters Moisture Control Address: 15 Freeport St., Delmont, Pa. 15626 Tel: # 412/468-0066 or 1-800-422-6379 Contact: Keith Morgan Other: 24 hour service Vendor: UnSmoke Restorx Address: 1135 Braddock Ave, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15104 Tel. #: 412/351-8686
Item: Freezer Trucks
Vendor: Hammel Express Address: 26th & Railroad St., Pittsburgh, Pa. 15222 Tel. #: 412/281-9883 Other: One trailer usually available Cost: Based on weight
Item: Freezers
Owner: University of Pittsburgh Address: B-62 Crawford Hall Tel. #: x44267 Contact: Bud Wittmer Other: Coldest freezer -5 deg. C. Several heavily used freezers; Can use if space available Vendor: New Federal Cold Storage Address: 1501 Penn Ave. (Strip District), Pittsburgh, Pa. 15201 Tel. #: 412/471-5161 Other: Open Monday - Friday 7:30 -4:30; After hours beeper # Vendor: Allegheny Cold Storage Address: 57th Street (Lawrenceville), Pittsburgh, Pa. 15201 Tel. #: 782-3670 Other: Open Monday - Friday 7 am - 7pm; not available on weekend
Item: Hygrothermograph
Owner: University of Pittsburgh - Preservation Dept. Address: 403 Hillman Tel. # Quantity: 2
Item: Moisture Meters
Owner: University of Pittsburgh, Preservation Dept. Address: 403 Hillman Library Tel. # Quantity: 1 Vendor: Munters Moisture Control Address: 15 Freemont St., Delmont, Pa. 15626 Tel. #: 412/486-0066 or 1-800-422-6379 Contact: Keith Morgan Vendor: UnSmoke Address: 1135 Braddock Ave.. Pittsburgh, Pa. 15104 Tel. #: 412/351-8686 Cost: Depends on model; Call for information
Item: Vacuum Freeze Dryer
Owner: University of Pittsburgh - Department of Materials Science & Engineering Address: Benedum Hall Tel. #: x49720 Contact: Dr. Nicholas Eror Other: 1 available, but heavily used