As per the suggestion made by the Image Permanence Institute was to create an Integrated Pest Management plan to monitor and assess the damage pests may cause to the collection.

In July fifty sticky pest traps were placed throughout the building where collections are held. The traps were checked every week for pests, and environmental monitor data was downloaded at the end of the three week term.

Existing procedures:Currently the Academy employs Superior Pest Elimination to spray for pests outside the building

at least once a month. They use suspend SC insecticide and placed three glue traps in the basement of the new stacks. Occasionally they spray inside the building near the cafe area.

ResultsThe library has pests throughout the collection. Though several silverfish, firebrats and booklice

were found throughout the new stacks and rare book room (see appendix A). The first week pests were observed in three traps from new stacks and the basement. The next pests were found in 31 of the traps, throughout the collection. The final week pests were stuck in 39 traps throughout the collection. The most common pests in our collection are bristletails, particularly firebrats. Bristletails are commonly thought to eat books and paper, but they actually prefer food higher in protein. Their presence may indicate the RH throughout the collection might need to be adjusted. The same is true of booklice, who like higher humidity environments.

Areas to keep an eye on:The second week the trap by the OS6 exit door caught 15 bristletails of various ages. We thought the heavy rain that week increased the RH of the collection, prompting bristletail movement, especially there because so much outside air is able to get in under the door. The data from the monitors on OS5 and OS7 (there is no monitor on OS6) didn’t support this hypothesis, the RH remained stable in these areas despite the rain (see Appendix E). This area is still at risk for pests though because of the space under the door.

Following an event with food the Hartwell room had several ants trapped by the door. Though ants don’t usually damage books, they move throughout the collections and can become a food source for other pests that prefer high protein food. If there are events on the 3rd floor involving food, the entire area should be cleaned immediately after.

Many bristletails and booklice were found in the new stacks, particularly NS1M, NS2, and NS2M. If possible, books on these floors should periodically be checked for damage.

Action items

1. Continue monitoring the collection for pests throughout the year*2. Remove plastic from OS9, clean shelves, keep checking for leaks3. Cover windows in new stacks with board4. Investigate pest mitigation options (like oxygen scavenging)5. Resume stackbusting efforts with emphasis on cleaning. Decide who is in charge of cleaning

shelvesCollections issues:

Stackbusting was completed on OS3, OS4 and OS5, but several of the shelves are still quite

dusty. Signs that say “STACKBUSTING COMPLETE” should be removed. Stackbusting should continue, as the majority of the old stacks still need attention. Several floors of the old stacks (OS1 & OS5-7) have books on the floor, either in boxes, or on old shelving units (see Appendix C). This is particularly concerning on OS6 where the largest concentration of silverfish/firebrats were found. Collections likely will need to be shifted to accommodate the books not currently shelved. There are several boxes of dirty books on the floor along the East wall of OS1. These books will require cleaning before they can be reshelved.

On OS9, the plastic should be removed and the shelves cleaned. The wrapped shelves create a humidity chamber that can damage books within the wrapping. Continue monitoring for humidity/water damage, but place signs that say the shelves aren’t fit to hold collections. Keep leak diverter mechanism, monitor its effectiveness and replace if as needed.

Housekeeping/facilities issues:I learned from placing traps in corners that most of them are extremely grimy. On OS1 there is

even a q-tip on the floor in the grime close to the wall by several of the boxed books. In the new stacks someone swept, but left the pile on the floor. Throughout the weeks I observed all the trash from that pile disperse back into the collection. Overall cleaning in the stacks needs to be better. Dust and grime that accumulates on the floor and in corners can contains organic material that pests eat.

The emergency exit on OS6 needs a better fix than old t-shirts. The door is not flush to the ground allowing outside air, and pests inside the building. Stairway C has some water damage to the walls between NS2 and NS1M, and also between NS1M and NS1. It would be prudent to put an environmental monitor on OS6 and in Stairwell C.

Security issues:If one were to make it to the basement and enter SB1 they would be able to access SB5, SB6,

NSB, and all of the old stacks. This door should lock.

Appendix APests identified in our collection:

Bristletails: Bristletail is a general term for both firebrats (Thermobia domestica) and silverfish (Lepisma saccharina). Both pests are attracted to high humidity. Though commonly thought to eat bookbinding, bristletail usually prefer food high in protein and silverfish commonly cannibalize others. Their excrement most commonly damages books.

Booklice (Psocoptera): Booklice attracted to humid areas and feed on fungi and mold. Booklice in the collection might mean the environment promotes mold growth.

Smooth spider beetle (Gibbium aequinoctiale): General scavengers that can eat practically anything. They prefer damp locations, but can thrive anywhere with enough food. It would be practically impossible to rid the collection of these beetles because they have such a varied diet.

Odd beetle: These beetles prefer to eat dried animal specimens and natural fibers. Odd beetles are primarily a concern for natural history museums, but at the NYAM has a variety of at risk items like skins on books and other things made of natural fibers, like paper and fabric. Though several odd beetle larvae were found, only one adult female was caught. It is unlikely that there is an infestation of odd beetles.

Appendix BSuggested IPM program:

Sticky traps should be placed throughout the collection, including B6 & B11, and particularly by doorways, or in corners, and checked weekly or biweekly. When pests are observed books on surrounding shelves should be examined for damage. Different pests are indicative of different issues; if a high concentration of booklice are observed, look for mold or fungi on/in books, while if bristlebacks are present look for damage to textblock. If books have pest damage, follow up with Polygon (pest management). If possible check books periodically for damage and place more traps in areas where damage is observed.

Investigate oxygen removal for books that may have pests living in them. Ageless is commonly used in museums. http://ageless.mgc-a.com/product/ageless/

Appendix CStacks photos

Emergency exit on OS6, and abandoned t-shirts on shelf. You can see light coming under the door

Some books on shelving units on floor on OS5-7

Water damage in stairwell C

Books in boxes as far as the eye can see on OS1

Appendix D:Pest worksheet

Appendix E:Environmental reports

References:"Controlling Insect Pests: Alternatives To Pesticides." Conserve O Gram 3.8 (1998): n. pag. Web.

Jacobs, Steve, Sr. "Bristletails (Silverfish and Firebrats) (Department of Entomology)." Department of Entomology (Penn State University). The Pennsylvania State University, Jan. 2013. Web.

Jacobs, Steve, Sr. "Spider Beetles (Department of Entomology)." Department of Entomology (Penn State University). The Pennsylvania State University, Dec. 2013. Web.

"Psocids, Book Lice & Barklice." Orkin.com. N.p., n.d. Web.