Integrated Pest Management Presentation for Preservation Staff

Creatures that devour - or otherwise pose risk to libraries and their contents – have existed since long before the first words were committed to parchment. As the documents we create and store nurture our minds, they provide sustenance and housing for innumerable pests. Some of these little villains eat or tunnel through paper and bindings, others the bookshelves and structural timbers, and yet more are interested in feasting on unsuspecting persons. Then, there are many denizens that pose no measurable harm, yet strike terror simply because of their presence. We will explore a selection of the wee beasties of concern as well as the damage they may cause, highlight their significance, describe how to find and categorize them, and provide guidance on what to do - as well as what not to do.

Our presenter is Richard Pollack of Harvard’s Dept of Environmental Health and Safety. He is broadly trained in entomology and zoology, has amassed decades of experience in libraries (as a patron and staff member), and frequently is consulted to identify pests affecting people, and library and museum holdings as well as the buildings that house them. You are encouraged to come armed with questions, challenges, questions and specimens.

Harvard ID only.