Paper, parchment, leather, photos: dedicated protocols

Disinfestation and disinfection interventions specific for library and archive materials: paper (books, manuscripts, registers, files), parchment (illuminated codices, diplomas, notarial acts), leather (bindings, register covers), fabric (vestments, tapestries, flags), photographs (paper positives, plates, negatives), historic magnetic and digital media.

Main species/agents treated: Anobium punctatum, Stegobium paniceum (drugstore beetle), psocids (paper lice), Lepisma saccharina (silverfish), moulds and fungi (Aspergillus, Penicillium, Cladosporium), bacteria.

• UNI EN 16893:2018 – Cultural heritage, specifications for storage and conservation environments.
• ICPAL Guidelines (Italian Central Institute for Archive and Book Pathology) for restoration and disinfestation.
• ICCU for material management procedures.
• D.Lgs. 42/2004 – archive and book heritage protection.
• 1972 Restoration Charter and updates.
• International ICCROM and IFLA guidelines.

State Archives and Archival Superintendencies, national, university and civic libraries, historic archives of public and private bodies (Municipalities, Dioceses, Universities, Historic Companies), notarial archives, parish archives, cultural foundations with document collections, collectors of antique books and manuscripts.

Urgent intervention when: black/grey/green stains on books or registers (moulds), small holes on covers, frass on shelves, persistent mould smell, water damage after flooding.

For sealed or transportable collections: nitrogen anoxia in modular chamber (21 days, T 22 °C, RH 55%, O₂ < 0.1%). Zero residue, zero risk for inks and pigments.

For non-removable in-situ collections: nitrogen bubble on shelving, very-low-wattage microwave (specific for paper boxes), gentle active nebulisation (e.g. propiconazole for moulds).

For post-flooding recovery: rapid freezing of wet material (to stop moulds), followed by freeze-drying with partner labs. Document recovery 95-100%.

IPM (Integrated Pest Management) plan: quarterly inspections with adhesive traps, sample microbiological swabs, preventive conservation report with recommendations. Low cost, up to 70% less than extraordinary interventions.