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Purpose
of the study
Perspectives on pest management in libraries and
archives
Hazards of pests in libraries and archives
Health concerns arising from pesticide use in
buildings
Management responsibility for an effective, safe
program
INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT FOR LIBRARIES AND ARCHIVES
Thomas A. Parker, PhD
Pest Control Services, Inc.
14 E. Stratford Avenue
Lansdowne, PA USA 19050
This study has been prepared for the National Preservation Program Office of the Library of Congress, Washington, DC, under contract with the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA, The Hague, Netherlands) and sponsored by The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO, Paris, France) in response to the need for a better understanding of the pest problems associated with library materials and archives. Topics reviewed will be the major pests of libraries and archives, the damage they do to collections, and techniques for their prevention and control; and the development and initiation of an Integrated Pest Management program for facilities housing library and archival materials.
Perspectives on pest management in libraries and archives
The library community is concerned with insects, mold, and other pests in library and archival materials for several reasons. First and foremost among these is the commitment to preserve the collections for continued future use by mankind. Insects and mold can reduce the printed word to excrement; obliterate page after page with staining and fungal destruction; and destroy bindings, covers, and valuable documents.
The second concern is the economic loss caused by insects and mold. Insect attack can be so intense that a bindery cannot keep pace with the damage caused by beetle larvae feeding on the glue and other constituents of bindings. Mold can create great economic loss to collections in a short time, particularly in situations where water pipes burst and flood the collections, a fire results in heavy water damage, faulty air-handling systems generate high humidities, or naturally occurring floods create conditions conducive to extensive mold growth. Economic losses are created not only by the direct replacement costs of books and materials, but also by expenditures required to salvage, conserve, and restore the materials damaged by the mold growth brought on by such catastrophies.
A third consideration is the psychological revulsion of the staff and public to pests in a facility. Mice, cockroaches, and other insects generate fear and anxiety in the minds of many individuals. People simply do not want to work in or visit an infested facility. In many parts of the world human beings have come to expect a pest-free environment.
A final consideration is concern with regulatory action by various health and sanitation agencies. Some pests present a threat only to the library collections; others, however, may be of significance to the public health. Rodent and cockroach infestations are of particular concern to such agencies because of their potential for disease transmission to people.
Hazards of pests in libraries and archives
Not only do pests cause damage to collections and the structures that house them, but they may also have a significant adverse effect on humans. Wherever people are exposed to rodents, insects, or mold, the potential exists for bites, contact with feces and urine, food contamination, exposure to infectious agents, and allergic responses. In addition, ectoparasites of rodents have the potential of biting man and transmitting disease. Entomophobia, the fear of insects, may also be of concern when dealing with staff and the public.
The feces and urine of rats and mice, if deposited in places where they may come into contact with people or contaminate human food and water, may transmit various kinds of infectious agents. Various fungal organisms grow in environments contaminated by pigeon and starling feces, and the airborne spores are known to cause infection in several hundred people each year (Fraser et al. 1979). Infestations of people by fleas associated with rodent infestations; of structures with cockroaches; and of collections with booklice and "paperfleas" may cause pain, discomfort, phobias, and the threat of illness.
The fine hairs of some species of carpet beetle larvae have been cited as the cause of allergic reactions in humans (Okumura 1967). Dr. Richard Brenner, of the USDA Insects Affecting Man and Animals Research Laboratory, in Gainesville, Florida, states, "We know that 8 to 25 percent of the general population, and 70 percent of the asthmatic population is allergic to cockroaches...."
Health concerns arising from pesticide use in buildings
With the advent of synthetic pesticides primarily aimed at the control of pests in agricultural settings, man enthusiastically adapted many of these materials for pest control in buildings. Subsequent detection of adverse health effects from pesticides soon tempered the initial enthusiasm for sole reliance on these chemicals in a pest-management strategy. The effects of chronic and incidental exposure, coupled with increasing pest resistance to chemicals, are a major concern worldwide.
Since the 1960's, when organo-chlorine pesticides were replaced by faster acting but more toxic organo-phospate and carbamate insecticides, over-exposure has resulted in an undetermined number of cases of systemic poisonings (Davies 1977). The effect of these pesticides on human beings can be seen most clearly in those parts of the world where knowledge of safety precautions has not kept pace with the chemical technology (Davies et al. 1978). Problems arise during handling and mixing of the chemical concentrates, and also during application where subsequent formation of surface deposits result from airborne concentrations.
When an insecticide is sprayed on a surface indoors, the solvents and small amounts of insecticide are volatilized into the space occupied by the collections and human beings. These chemical concentrations, although of low levels, may redeposit on surfaces far from the site of initial application. Small amounts of chemicals may also be inhaled by individuals and may cause adverse reactions. The more volatile an insecticide, the more chemical will be released into the air. Depending on the type of application, these airborne amounts will subside after a period of hours or days, and eventually the insecticide itself will be broken down into nontoxic elements by the action of moisture in the air and ultraviolet light. The medical significance of chronic and incidental exposure has become as great as that of acute exposure (National Academy Press 1980).
Concern about the effects of pesticide exposure on human health was first expressed in relation to agricultural uses. It is now presumed, however, that significant exposure is also occurring in the urban setting, where the population at risk is not only different, but also much larger. In addition, the chemicals used by urban residents are often different from those used in agriculture, and misuse is frequent. Unfortunately, health concerns about pesticide use in urban areas are based largely on effects documented in agricultural situations, and few if any comprehensive studies of the effects in urban areas have been initiated (National Academy Press 1980).
Chemical pollutants in libraries and archives are of prime concern, particularly where insecticidal sprays and toxic fumigants are being used as a means of controlling insect pests and mold. The move to build more energy-efficient buildings as a result of increasing energy costs has heightened the awareness of many people to the dangers of chemical pollutants in indoor environments.
Management responsibility for an effective, safe program
Management must realize that no simple solutions exist to the problem of achieving maximum prevention and control of pests in library and archival collections with minimum risk to the collections, staff, and the public. A combination of techniques is usually required to maximize the effectiveness of any pest control program. The term "Integrated Pest Management" (IPM) has been coined to embody the concept that all pest control programs must rely on several approaches working in concert to effect the desired result. To design an effective and safe program for a facility, management must consider an IPM approach.
Libraries and archives, where books, printed materials, manuscripts, maps, prints, photographs, and various other materials are stored, perused, and exhibited, are not unlike the setting in agriculture where huge quantities of foodstuffs are stored for long periods of time. The library setting is a concentration of foodstuffs, including starches, cellulose, and proteins, which form a banquet for insects, rodents, and mold. This environment creates many opportunities for nesting sites for pests that do not feed directly on the collections. The environment in which these foodstuffs are stored is indoors, protected from extremes of harsh climates. Populations of pests specific to this microenvironment can easily explode and cause serious damage if IPM approaches are not fully utilized to prevent this from happening.
Chemical solutions to pest problems must be considered an alternative of last resort. When working with pesticides, management must be aware of the laws and regulations governing their use and the legal liability and potential consequences their use entails. Short- and long-term exposure of humans to pesticides may return to haunt management in the form of law suits stemming from actual or perceived illness.
Management is responsible for designing an IPM program that should comprise the following five key actions (Baur 1984):
1. Establish an inspection or surveillance program or system for the facility that will yield prompt awareness of a possible problem.
2. Determine the extent and nature of the possible problem, that is, the pest species, their density, and location.
3. Devise an Integrated Pest Management plan for prevention, control, or elimination of the problem.
4. Oversee the implementation of the devised plan and be willing to modify it as indicated.
5. Monitor the results of the effort.