Quantitative and qualitative environmental biological monitoring in the Documentation Center and Library of the Cultural Heritage and Tourism Research Institute

Biodeterioration of library materials is a worldwide problem in archives and libraries. Investigation of biological agents (quantitatively and qualitatively) as well as environmental factors that affect the survival and persistence of microorganisms, are the main parts of preventive conservation. Therefore, we studied the biological pollution in repositories and other parts of the Documentation Center and Library of the Cultural Heritage and Tourism Research Institute and evaluated the environmental factors (temperature, relative humidity) in order to preserve paper works.

Method and Research Design: 

Quantitative and qualitative investigations of biological contaminants (bacteria and fungi) were performed using sedimentation method (passive method). In addition, environmental factors (temperature and relative humidity) were monitored in audiovisual and records repositories.

Relative humidity and temperature variation rates were high and non-standard in the audiovisual and records repositories. Biological studies showed that the fungal and bacterial contamination level in the library repository was higher than the alert level. The most frequent bacterial isolates were Bacillus and Staphylococcus and the dominant fungal isolates belonged to the genera Aspergillus, Penicillium, Alternaria, Cladosporium, most of which have a high potential to produce decomposing enzymes.