Laura:
So sorry to hear this tale of woe! I’ve never encountered such but can recommend the resources and staff of the New England Document Conservation Center.
They have a hot line for emergencies and I’m sure they can offer advice:
COLLECTIONS Emergency Hotline: (855) 245-8303
https://www.nedcc.org/free-resources/disaster-assistance/emergency-phone-assistance
Good luck.
Russell
Russell L. Martin III
Director, DeGolyer Library
Southern Methodist University
Box 750396
Dallas, Texas 75275-0396
214-768-3234
214-768-1565 (FAX)
http://smu.edu/libraries/degolyer/
From: colldv-request_at_lists.ala.org [mailto:colldv-request_at_lists.ala.org] On Behalf Of Laura Turner
Sent: Monday, August 20, 2018 1:54 PM
To: colldv_at_lists.ala.org
Subject: [ALCTS-colldv] Help with a preservation issue - rat droppings on the tops of books
Dear colleagues,
We had a nasty surprise in my library this morning, finding that we had a few shelves covered in rat droppings and several books covered with droppings on the tops of the books. We are getting exterminators out here today, but I wondered if there is a best practice for dealing with the books that were affected. Do you normally destroy and try to replace them, or is there an effective way to clean them? Some of the mess is messy and the rest is "dry". For now the area is cordoned off.
Are the books that surround the affected books salvageable with just regular book cleaning techniques?
Many thanks for any wisdom as quickly as possible!
Laura
Laura Turner
Head of Collections, Access, and Discovery
Helen K. and James S. Copley Library
University of San Diego
5998 Alcala Park
San Diego, CA 92110-2492
Phone: (619) 260-2365
lauraturner_at_sandiego.edu<mailto:lauraturner_at_sandiego.edu>
Office Hours: Mon.-Tues. and Thurs.-Fri., 8:30-4:30
Received on Mon Aug 20 2018 - 15:49:41 EDT