The document discusses the deterioration of library materials, highlighting various causes such as environmental, biological, chemical, human, and disaster factors. It emphasizes the importance of preservation and conservation techniques, including preventive and curative measures, to extend the life expectancy of library materials. Effective strategies involve maintaining ideal conditions, regular cleaning, and safeguarding against potential threats to library collections.

1. Deterioration of Library
Materials
As Prepared by
Solanke, Oluwayinka
Esther
REDEEMER’S UNIVERSITY
P.M.B 230
EDE, OSUN STATE
NIGERIA

2. What is deterioration?
 A change of original state of any material by
interaction between the object and the factors of
destruction.
The process of becoming worse.
All organic materials, including library materials,
are subject to deterioration.
The composition of library materials, their
manufacturing processes, and the adhesives used
in the binding of these materials affect their rate
of deterioration.

3. Major Causes of Deterioration of
Library Materials
 Environmental Factors
 Biological Factors
 Chemical Factors
 Human Factors
 Disasters

4. Environmental Factors:
* Temperature
* Light
* Relative Humidity
* Atmospheric Pollutants
* Water

5. Biological Factors:
Insects
Silverfish
Cockroaches
Bookworms
Book Lice
White Ants
Micro-organism
Bacterial
Fungus
Moulds
Mammals
Rodents

6. Chemical Factors:
* Sulphur dioxides
* Oxides of nitrogen
* Ozone

7. Human Factors:
 casual attitude of :
library staff; as well as the
library users’ towards books as physical
objects.
 Improper storage
 Faulty repair
 Rough handling
 Deliberate abuse
 Folding the fore-edges of pages as a mark of reading
 Marking by ball pen,
 Mutilation,
 Vandalism

8. Disasters:
* Fire
* Floods
* High winds
* Cyclones
* Earth quakes, etc

9. Importance of Preservation and
Conservation
 The processes of preservation, conservation and restoration are
applied to safeguard the library materials from further decay
and deterioration.
 There are two aspects of preservation of library materials:
i. the preventive measures which includes all forms of
indirect actions aimed at increasing the life expectancy of
undamaged or damaged
ii. the Curative measures consists of all forms of direct
actions aimed at increasing the life expectancy of undamaged
or damaged elements of cultural property. It includes repairing,
mending, fumigation, deacidification, lamination, and other
jobs which are required considering the physical condition of
the individual document

10. Preventive Measures for:
1. environmental factors
maintain ideal room temperature (200-250c) and relative
humidity of (RH45- 55%)
Prevented sunlight from falling directly on papers
 use of de-hydrating agents like silica gel to minimize
humidity.
use vacuum cleaner to sucks the dust
2. biological factors
Avoid contact of book racks with walls (at least 15 cm
away from the walls)

11. Preventive Measures Cont
Periodic use of insecticidal powder is a good
precautionary measure to preventing insects.
Attend to cracks, crevices and loose joints in floors and
walls to eliminate the possibility of insect hiding in these
places
 Foundation of new library buildings should be given anti-
insect treatment
 Disallow presence of edibles inside the library

12. Preventive Measures Cont
3. chemical factors
 use vacuum cleaner and fine brushes for dusting of
shelves and books.
No chemical formulations should be directly applied to
the book or book cover.
 uncoated wooden storage should be avoided as it gives
off volatile acidic vapors.
4. human factors
Avoid licking of fingers as an aid to turn pages.

13. Preventive Measures Cont
Underlining must be avoided.
 Books should not be left open on the reading table, face
downwards.
Leaning on an open book should be avoided since this can
damage the spine and binding.
 Never allow a book to stand on its fore edge
5. disasters
 Identify a external and internal threats that might cause
problems for the collection.
 Strategize measures to meet those threats.
 Have crisis management plan

14. Conclusion
Preventive conservation plays a key role in preserving
library collection. Every library should, therefore,
practice preventive conservation to keep the documents in
healthy, good, and usable condition.

15. Thank You