NEWSPAPER LIBRARY DISASTERS: FLOODS
As the rain continued to drench our area, I left for home with the sinking feeling that I would be one of the statistics that would have to cope with water damage.
My neighbor had called. "Don't attempt to come in from the south, you'll get stuck." The reporters were equally encouraging. "The east and west roads are flooded and closed. Cars all over." Well, short of taking a helicopter, the car and I arrived home without any problems.
As I turned on the light in our basement and recreation room, tears of frustration added to the 12 inches of ice cold water gurgling all over the floor.
We were fortunate. The clear water receded within several hours and the damage we suffered affected only one box of books. Now you ask, "How can a librarian leave books where they could possibly be damaged?" Well, these books belonged to my children. One child, who will not admit it, had removed the box from a high shelf and left it on the floor.
Children who (finally) leave the nest seem to think some things must remain with mom, like books.
The scenario goes like this: They are moving out, taking everything that isn't nailed down. You check the U-Haul as they load the boxes but there are still boxes in the basement that contain their precious possessions.
"Can we get rid of these boxes?" I ask.
"No they're important things I may need."
"If they are so important take them with you, make them a part of your life," I plead.
"I don't have room. Keep them until I need them," is their standard reply.
One son has a fantastic yuppie apartment with more closet and storage space than the old homestead.
I know they take after their father. He will not discard any of his old college health textbooks. I remind him that the diseases listed in those books are no longer in existence. "I may need the books some day," he says.
So, this is how one box of autographed high school yearbooks came to be damaged. As these dutiful children began calling to see what damage had been done, the question was, "Anything ruined?"
"Yes, all the high school yearbooks."
"How did you let that happen?"
"They were left on the floor!" I screamed.
Silence. "How bad are they?"
"Pretty wet."
"Can they be saved?" they asked.
"I don't know," I answered.
"Mom, do something, you're a librarian."
Well, at this point I was one tired human being and could not deal exclusively with 12 high school yearbooks. I quickly removed them from the wet box, and looking for a place to put them, decided that the refrigerator in the recreation room was a good place to get them out of the way.
As I and the wet/dry vac began working to clean up the mess, I remembered that water damage can be remedied with freeze-drying. But with all the devastation in the county, 12 high school yearbooks were not top priority.
A week later I remembered the books and the cry, "but Mom, you're a librarian." I called around and checked with several of my colleagues in the area. All recited the following:
Books and papers should be dried slowly.
If possible, place the books on end with leaves separated.
Pile and press occasionally to prevent crumpling.
If books and valuable papers are very damp, sprinkle cornstarch or talcum powder between the leaves to absorb moisture and brush off after drying.
When pages are nearly dry, apply low heat (an electric iron or hair dryer could be used) and separate the pages near the end of the process to prevent musty odors.
Some libraries have used a freeze-drying process for salvaging dampened paper items. Following drying, occasionally check for deterioration.
End of professional advice. The final bit of comforting information was, "If all else fails, dump the books."
Well, to make a long story short, I began checking the books in the refrigerator daily and three weeks later we removed some very cold books from their storage place. We opened each book, separating the pages and placed them on end to dry. They are still drying nicely, slightly crumpled, not mildewing; the autographs are still readable. They will never be the same but they are not a total loss. I think my reputation as a mom and librarian is still intact.
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This page was created by Barbara P. Semonche and Sheila Denn. It was last updated May 1997. If you have any suggestions or comments, feel free to contact Barbara
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