Many genealogists and historians believe the only method of storing records for long-term preservation is to do so on paper because "it lasts forever." However, the employees at the archives of Emporia State University in Emporia, Kansas probably will disagree. Some irreplaceable books, photographs, and documents in the archive have recently been damaged by a serious problem: mold.
Mold was first discovered in September 2009. University Archivist Heather Wade estimates that nearly 300 of the 4,500 linear feet of records have been affected by active mold bloom. Wade sent an email message to Mark Runge, director of facilities, in September 2009, stating: “The mold is on the papers, photographs and books in our rare collections. It is there because you did not remedy the roof leaks, the inadequate HVAC, the ridiculously high humidity levels and the filth problems in the building. We stand to lose some very valuable collections or a lot of money in recovering the collection because the facilities at Anderson have not been maintained for the past 4 years. "
You can read more in an article by Kelsey Ryan in the Emporia Gazette at http://www.emporiagazette.com/news/2011/apr/27/mold-invades-esu-archives-documents-damaged/
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