Training Workshop on the Salvage of Water-damaged Library Materials

On February 22-23, 2001, Toby Murray, UNLV Libraries’ Preservation/Conservation Librarian, conducted a hands-on workshop on the salvage of water-damaged library materials.  The workshop was held in the Lied Library Preservation/Conservation Laboratory.  The purpose of the workshop was to train members and alternates of the in-house Disaster Recovery Assistance Team (DRAT).  Also attending the workshop were Melanie Scott, Director of Libraries of the Desert Research Institute, and Rick Martin, Planning, Training and Exercise Coordinator of the State of Nevada Division of Emergency Management.

Awaiting the participants were books, journals, photographs, negatives, slides, microforms, disks, sound recordings, and tapes soaking in both clean and muddy water. The materials were prepared for freezing and air-drying on the first day of the workshop.

On the second day of the workshop, participants returned to observe the condition of the materials after air-drying overnight, and to remove the items placed in the freezer the day before.  Discussions concerning follow-up procedures completed the workshop. 

Click on images to enlarge them.

Melanie Scott extracts water from and flattens a saturated book.

Bill Frederick wraps a book for freezing.

Vicky Diaz and Kathleen Marx salvage audio-visual materials.

Toby Murray demonstrates separating clay-coated pages as Sharon Drouin and Kathy War watch.

Toby Murray places weights on drying materials as Melanie Scott, Eva Stowers, Kathleen Marx, and Dale Griffith watch. 

Kathleen Marx, Carol Rogers, and Toby Murray calculate the humidity in the room with a sling psychrometer.

Carol Rogers and Bill Frederick wash muddy books.

Materials are left to air-dry overnight.

Dried mud is brushed off a book.

A "booksicle"  is removed from the freezer and set up to air-dry.

Toby Murray demonstrates the use of a moisture meter.