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An archive storage environment requires optimal conditions to preserve its stored artifacts. Otherwise, items degrade and might be vulnerable to mold damage, depending on the temperature and relative humidity levels. By knowing the signs of a poorly regulated archive storage environment, you can take quick action to remedy the situation and prevent costly damage.

Libraries and archival collections create the ideal conditions for pests when there is a lack of integrated pest management, which includes environmental controls and pest prevention techniques. Integrated pest management focuses on pest prevention and control using techniques that are environmentally friendly and products that pose the least risk of toxicity. By knowing which conditions lead to pest problems in archives, you can take steps to prevent a costly infestation.

While it isn’t always realistic for a company to be 100 percent paperless, reducing the amount of paper that employees shuffle can lead to increased efficiencies and cost savings. With advancements such as optical character recognition and sophisticated security algorithms, the benefits of going paperless may be more abundant than you think.

Moisture at a construction site warrants serious attention, particularly because most building materials absorb moisture. As a result, a common construction drying solution includes the use of an on-site HVAC system in an attempt to maintain ideal relative humidity levels. The problem with this approach is that HVAC units are meant to condition air so the occupants inside feel comfortable. Using an HVAC system for a different reason increases the appliance’s load, causing unnecessary wear and tear. It’s simply the wrong tool for the task.

A library collection’s life expectancy is most dependent on its environmental conditions. When conditions are sub-par, damage generally occurs slowly, making it easy to go unnoticed. One of the most common forms of damage is mold growth, which first becomes apparent when a collection gains a musty smell. Because cellulose-based materials are vulnerable to several types of mold, humidity control for libraries is an essential step to maintaining an ideal environment. By knowing which environmental factors are crucial to preserving collections, you can take steps to ensure they are within acceptable ranges.