Wear a dust mask,molds can cause respiratory problems.Greenish blue type
is penicillus but white is aspergillus and harmful. Best solution is to
air books in outdoors on a balmy warm day in the shade flipping them
open and leaving them to air. Direct sunlight kills mold but UV rays
damages paper.
Once mold is a dry powder then dust off with a stiff,clean paint
brush(new and reserved for just that purpose) wisking dust to a vacuum
cleaner upholstery brush.Dispose of bag in trash when job completed.
North East Documents Conservation Center in Andover Mass., may be of
further assistance with stubborn problems.May have handout literature to
send you. Tel # 508--470-1010
Good luck
Len Hambleton - Objects Conservator
North Carolina Museum of History
5 East Edenton Street
Raleigh NC. 27601-1011
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919-715-0200 x244
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> -----Original Message-----
> From: Egan Institute [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Monday, March 02, 1998 8:08 PM
> To:   [log in to unmask]
> Subject:      cleaning books
>
> Help! We (a small museum on Nantucket) have inherited a small
> collection
> of books and I need to know the correct way to clean dust and mold off
> of
> the book covers (the books range in date from the mid-19th century to
> the
> mid-20th century). I would appreciate help from all you experts in the
> field! Thanks.
>
> Margaret Moore
> Curator, Egan Institute of Maritime Studies
> 4 Winter Street
> Nantucket, MA 02554
> fax - 508-228-7069
> e-mail - [log in to unmask]