Health Science Center Libraries fight mold growths on books

[Guest guest]

Wow! This is a very telling article. It is a HEALTH SCIENCE LIBRARY. Yet:

They have opted to remove and clean the books. But the people can still use

it as a study area. Employees who are sensitive to mold don't have to go into

the area if they choose not. But is there any warning given to those who

are studying in the area that some of the librarians won't even go in there?

And the people, who are allowed to study on the first floor, are not allowed

to go to the second floor because they don't want the second floor

contaminated. Isn't that an acknowledgement that those studying on the first

floor

are being exposed to a contaminated area?

Amazing! And this is a Health Science Library, for God Sakes. Maybe they

need to open up some of the books in their library and read them.

Sharon

Health Science Center Libraries fight mold growths on books

Independent Florida Alligator - Gainesville,Ind

By JORDANA FYNE, Alligator Contributing Writer

_http://www.alligatohttp://www.allihttp://www.http://www.ahttp://w_

(http://www.alligator.org/articles/2007/10/17/news/campus/mold.txt)

The Health Science Center Libraries began treatment for a mold

infestation Tuesday.

Librarians discovered the mold growth on the first floor's general

collection Oct. 10 and have been scrambling to contain and eliminate

it as soon as possible, said Beth Layton, interim director of the

Health Science Center Libraries.

The first floor can still be used as a study area, but all the books

have been removed to be sucked clean with high-efficiency

particulate air vacuums and wiped down with antimicrobial solution.

" If someone needs something on the first floor, they are

unfortunately out of luck, " Layton said.

Access to the journal collection on the second and third floors is

restricted to staff.

The staff wants to minimize further contamination by limiting

traffic and bringing article requests downstairs themselves.

" From a health standpoint, unless you have a sensitivity, the mold

should not be a problem, " she said.

Layton added that if a staff member has a sensitivity to the mold,

that person would not be expected to go.

Munters, an outside company that specializes in humidity control,

estimated it will take five days to clear out the infestation.

The company believes the mold was brought on by excessive humidity

after heavy rainfall the previous weekend, Gerald Kidney, assistant

vice president for Health Affairs, said in a statement released

Friday.

Kidney said the environmental levels have been adjusted so that the

spread of the mold will not continue.

Layton said the library plans to get a remote-control device to test

the humidity periodically on its own, similar to the devices used in

Smathers Library's Preservation Department.

In the meantime, the library plans to keep people informed with

signs around the building, updates on the Health Science Center

listserv and information posted on its Web site.

Layton said she expects that after remediation, the library will be

reopened and it will be like it never happened.

" A library is like an iceberg, " Layton said. " All you see is not all

that goes on. "

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[Guest guest]

Health Science Center Libraries fight mold growths on books

Independent Florida Alligator - Gainesville,FL*

By JORDANA FYNE, Alligator Contributing Writer

http://www.alligator.org/articles/2007/10/17/news/campus/mold.txt

The Health Science Center Libraries began treatment for a mold

infestation Tuesday.

Librarians discovered the mold growth on the first floor's general

collection Oct. 10 and have been scrambling to contain and eliminate

it as soon as possible, said Beth Layton, interim director of the

Health Science Center Libraries.

The first floor can still be used as a study area, but all the books

have been removed to be sucked clean with high-efficiency

particulate air vacuums and wiped down with antimicrobial solution.

" If someone needs something on the first floor, they are

unfortunately out of luck, " Layton said.

Access to the journal collection on the second and third floors is

restricted to staff.

The staff wants to minimize further contamination by limiting

traffic and bringing article requests downstairs themselves.

" From a health standpoint, unless you have a sensitivity, the mold

should not be a problem, " she said.

Layton added that if a staff member has a sensitivity to the mold,

that person would not be expected to go.

Munters, an outside company that specializes in humidity control,

estimated it will take five days to clear out the infestation.

The company believes the mold was brought on by excessive humidity

after heavy rainfall the previous weekend, Gerald Kidney, assistant

vice president for Health Affairs, said in a statement released

Friday.

Kidney said the environmental levels have been adjusted so that the

spread of the mold will not continue.

Layton said the library plans to get a remote-control device to test

the humidity periodically on its own, similar to the devices used in

Smathers Library's Preservation Department.

In the meantime, the library plans to keep people informed with

signs around the building, updates on the Health Science Center

listserv and information posted on its Web site.

Layton said she expects that after remediation, the library will be

reopened and it will be like it never happened.

" A library is like an iceberg, " Layton said. " All you see is not all

that goes on. "