Ashman

ARTC301

Professor Cassman

09/12/16

Alex Ashman

Morris Library Workroom: Climate Examination and Proposal

Morris Library houses the University of Delaware’s Special Collections Department.

Within this collection are countless forms of media including everything from sources available

for students to priceless documentation and manuscripts. The collection has been divided into

different rooms on different floors of the building. Each of these rooms has its own set of

difficulties. Housing these works has become somewhat of a challenge since the building was

not created with the conservation of diverse forms of media in mind.

After spending just a few minutes in Morris Library’s Workroom it is clear that there are

some disadvantages that could use attention. These faults are a result of the poor construction of

an addition to the library. The Workroom resides at the juncture between the original building

and the add-on. Where the two structures meet is a leak into the workroom from the ceiling. As a

result, the room is exposed to the elements opening up a host of unwanted complications.

According to staff this has been a problem for some time but has not been able to receive a

permanent fix due to budget deficiencies. When approaching a more controlled environment we

plan to confront this problematic area first by configuring a permanent fix for the leak and by

replacing the ceiling tiles to prevent mold and mildew. In addition, after reviewing a year’s

worth of data on relative humidity (RH) and temperature we found that the RH of the room

fluctuated greatly. We will be discussing efforts to steady these reading and keep them within a
 Ashman
2

more neutral range. Controlling these fluctuations, as well as addressing smaller items could

improve the overall climate of the room throughout the year.

The Workroom’s temperature is relatively well regulated throughout the year aside from

the expected seasonal drift. However, the relative humidity of the room is quite sporadic and

tends to have rapid fluctuations which could negatively affect the works that are repaired and

prepared for exhibition in the room.

The short term housing of works being repaired or prepared for an exhibit is the main

concern for this room. Although it may not seem like being in the work room for a short amount

of time would harm a work it may be detrimental if the relative humidity spikes are go

unregulated. The Image Permanence Institute has a website that will give a “Preservation

Evaluation” of a room based on its temperature, relative humidity, and dew point. Below is the

risk calculation for the Workroom’s highest relative humidity spike between August thirty-first

and September first when it rose by thirty percent to reach seventy-seven percent.
 Ashman
3

In this environment, natural aging is accelerated and can occur within just two weeks and

condensation is possible at just sixty-seven degrees. Since this was just a spike and the relative

humidity did not remain at this level the main concern becomes dew point. With the RH range

becoming so vast condensation is a real risk that the collection could suffer from resulting in

warping, cracking, and fraying of the organic materials.

One item that was noticed in multiple rooms was the lack of consistent data. The

temperature and relative humidity in this room need to be taken regularly. Although this may be

difficult to accomplish when having to rely on readings being taken in person every day, there

are other, more efficient ways to make it happen.

 Ashman
4

A HOBO data logger is a tool that can greatly improve the staff’s understanding of the

interior environment within special collections and the Workroom. The device can store almost

85,000 readings and has a battery life that can last up to a year. It takes readings at the user-

specified intervals, for the Workroom I recommend at least once per hour to ensure that no

fluctuation goes unnoticed. Each device costs around $89 and is definitely worth the cost. In

addition, if light levels in the room are a concern, there is an option to purchase a HOBO that

also reads light output in lumens for $140. Since the Workroom in not used to store any sensitive

materials light is not a particularly blatant issue but should be considered in other rooms where

paper materials are housed. The data taken from this logger will also help the library staff

communicate with the HVAC staff to assist in regulating the relative humidity.

Creating a more cohesive relationship with the HVAC staff will definitely help to ensure

that the climate within special collections becomes and stays regulated. Making these changes

and adding these extra precautions will better the special collection environment and help to

preserve the fantastic array of works housed within.f