The Methodology of Evaluation of Air Quality Effect on Library and Archival Collections

The aim of the project was a development of evaluation method for indoor air quality in libraries and archives, targeted at reduction of damages on archival collections caused by adverse effects of environment. The project included indoor/outdoor monitoring of particulate matter and gaseous pollutants at four libraries and archives representing different outdoor environments: Zlatá Koruna (rural area), Třeboň (small town), Teplice (industrial area), and Prague (large city). The adverse effects of deteriorated environment were studied by comparison of identical incunabules from these locations. Parallel to field studies the deterioration of paper caused by deposited dust particles was studied at laboratory conditions. In addition different methods of mechanical cleaning of paper were tested. Based on the results precautions reducing the adverse effects of outdoor air pollution were developed