Rice experts available to discuss cleaning, preserving damaged papers and books

EXPERT ALERT

David Ruth
713-348-6327
david@rice.edu

Jeff Falk
713-348-6775
jfalk@rice.edu

Rice experts available to discuss cleaning, preserving damaged papers and books 

HOUSTON – (Sept. 6, 2017) – As Texas and Houston recover from Hurricane/Tropical Storm Harvey, Rice University’s Fondren Library has advice for those concerned about cleaning and preserving papers and books impacted by flooding and mold.

Credit: Shutterstock.com/Rice University

The library’s experts have created an online research guide with information and tutorials for disaster recovery for documents, photographs, books and more. The guide is accessible to the general public at http://libguides.rice.edu/c.php?g=721417.

For example, the experts advise isolating moldy materials as soon as possible to prevent spreading. Individual items can be bagged or areas can be draped with plastic sheeting. They suggest drying or freezing materials as soon as possible. People should not spray materials with Lysol or bleach, which could cause further damage.

Amanda Focke (pronounced “FOH-key”), assistant head for special collections at Fondren Library’s Woodson Research Center, and Andy Damico, preservation librarian at Fondren, are available to discuss their guidance with media.

To schedule an interview with Focke or Damico, contact Jeff Falk, associate director of national media relations at Rice, at jfalk@rice.edu or 713-348-6775.

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Follow Fondren Library on Twitter @FondrenLibrary.

Follow Rice News and Media Relations on Twitter @RiceUNews.

Related materials:

Fondren Library: http://library.rice.edu.

Woodson Research Center: http://library.rice.edu/woodson.