[Moo] Tips to dry waterlogged papers, books

[Jeanne]

Pensacola (Fla.) News Journal 


The Northeast Document Conservation Center and the American Institute for
Conservation offers these tips for minimizing damage to waterlogged paper:

*	Secure a clean, dry environment where the temperature and humidity
are as low as possible. The temperature must be below 70 degrees and the
humidity below 50 percent or mold probably will develop and distortion will
be extreme.

*	Freeze wet books, documents, or photographs that cannot be air-dried
within two days to inhibit mold growth.

*	Keep the air moving at all times using fans in the drying area. This
will accelerate the drying process and discourage the growth of mold. If
materials are dried outside, remember that prolonged exposure to direct
sunlight may fade inks and accelerate the aging of paper. Train fans into
the air and away from the drying records.

*	Lay single leaves out on tables, floors and other flat surfaces,
protected if necessary by paper towels or clean, unprinted newsprint.
Clotheslines may be strung close together and records laid across them for
drying.

*	Use clean and absorbent blotting material for air drying. Options
include blotter paper, unprinted newsprint paper, paper towels, rags,
mattress pads, etc. Screening material (such as window screens) well
supported and stacked with space between them provide an excellent compact
drying surface.

*	Separate records from one another if they are printed on coated
paper to prevent them from sticking. Place a piece of polyester film on the
stack of records. Rub it gently down on the top sheet. Then slowly lift the
film while peeling off the top sheet.

*	Hang the polyester film up to dry on a clothesline using
clothespins. As a document dries, it will separate from the surface of the
film, so it must be monitored carefully. Before it falls, remove it, and
allow it to finish drying on a flat surface.

*	Store records in clean folders and boxes once they are dry or they
may be photocopied or reformatted in other ways. Dried records always will
occupy more space than ones that have never been water damaged.

*	Place absorbent material between the text block and the front and
back covers for books. If time and supplies allow, the blotting material
should be placed intermittently throughout the text as well. Fan volumes
open, and stand them on edge with the blotting paper extending beyond the
edges of the book. Replace this paper as it becomes soaked and invert the
volume each time to ensure even drying. 
	

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