Mass Deacidification Photo Album
How Can We Prevent Brittleness?
Fortunately, many of the books published today, especially scholarly texts, are printed on acid free paper. This advancement in paper manufacturing will greatly benefit researchers in the future.For older acidic paper which has not yet become brittle, the best hope for preventing brittleness is mass deacidification, a process in which chemicals are used to neutralize the acidity in paper and to add an alkaline reserve.
Many libraries, including the Library of Congress, are using mass deacidification as a way of preventing the embrittlement of their older collections. The Preservation Department of the University of Maryland Libraries estimates that 250,000 books from the University collections could benefit from mass deacidification.
Mass Deacidification: The Preservation Production Group has undertaken a mass deacidification initiative in the University of Maryland Libraries Collection. Currently, between 3,000 and 7,000 items are sent each year for treatment using the Bookkeeper process.
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pH testing: Books and bound journals are tested for acidity by using a pH testing pen. A mark is made across the tail edge of the item near the spine. If the mark remains blue, the item is sufficiently alkaline. If the color changes to green, yellow, or totally disappears, then the item is acidic and in need of treatment. |
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Weekly Shipments: Items are charged to the department and packed in plastic bins for shipping. The volumes are treated and returned to the library within 7-9 days. Upon their return, Preservation Staff edit the item record in the on-line catalog to show that the volume has been deacidified. The volumes are then discharged and returned to the stacks. |
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Shelf Life: Preservation Department staff place signs on the shelves alerting patrons that books and journals have been removed for deacidification. The items are marked by the vendor with a label on the inside back cover, indicating the date and type of treatment, as well as a white dot on the spine for easy identification on the shelf. Deacidification significantly extends the shelf life of an acidic book. |
