Decontamination of Merensky Library Archives

In 2018, a preliminary inspection was carried out on the Rare Collections basement of the Merensky 2 Library in order to determine the extent of a mould outbreak in the area. Mould is a non-scientific term for many types of unwanted fungi. Active mould growth damages the material it lives on, thereby impairing structural integrity. Mould requires moisture; its spores are airborne and it causes damage to buildings and collections. It is also associated with major health risks in humans, ranging from chronic allergies to infections.

After years of water leakages and occasional flooding, mould became a very visible problem in the basement of the Merensky 2 Library. An accredited paper conservator carried out the inspection and concluded that the mould outbreak in the area posed a significant threat to the collections housed there, as well as to any staff or researchers who might need to access the area. As a result of this inspection, it was deemed necessary to decontaminate the collections and the area.

During the month of August 2021, the Merensky Library Archives in the old Merensky Building went through a decontamination process. The process included the fumigation of the entire old Merensky Library including the HVAC system and ducting, with a fungicidal, bactericidal and viricidal agent using foggers. Installation of new filters also took place. The project was managed and supported by a project manager, site manager, microbiologist, security, OHS manager, mechanical engineer, librarian and cleaning team. The key activities of the decontamination included:

• Removing and cleaning books, artifacts and shelves.
• Selecting which items will be removed to sunlight.
• Training on the use of PPE and use of the antimicrobial wipes.
• Cleaning of shelves and identification for artefacts removed to direct sunlight.
• Safely disposing of contaminated wipes.
• Filters on the air conditioning plants were replaced since they were possibly contaminated.
• Soiled books with visible mould on it were treated on the outside of the building to be exposed to the sunlight.
• Books were treated with a disinfectant that is effective in removing mould and returned to the shelves.
• Cleaning of the books was conducted by trained global cleaning services personnel.
• Decontamination was conducted under stricter OHS protocols.
• Wearing of KN95 masks, gloves, used sanipes and other material was disposed of responsibly in medical waste boxes to avoid cross contamination.
• Decontamination was conducted under the supervision of a qualified microbiologist.

The cleaning and wiping of soiled books took place over 4 days in August. Different teams were deployed to clean and wipe books twice to make sure that no books were missed during the cleaning process. Badly soiled books were wiped and then placed in the sun to dry. Books were then moved in boxes with the shelf number clearly written on the outside to ensure they were put back exactly where they were removed. The Sterifog (RTU) disinfectant that was used stayed active for 30 days, therefore the second fogging took place on the 7th of September 2021. At the beginning of October 2021, microbial testing will be conducted to determine if the risk was mitigated.

Mould

Mould growth

Water damage