Mold found in Faribault Braille book collection

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Mold found in Faribault Braille book collection

Kavita Kumar

Star Tribune

Published Sep 25, 2002 MOLD25

One of the state's largest collections of Braille books is under quarantine

since the discovery of nontoxic mold on and around some books in early

September.

The Braille books affected are 20,000 to 25,000 volumes housed in the

basement of the Minnesota Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped

in Faribault, where the mold was found. The basement collection was closed

about two weeks ago.

The rest of the nearly 31,000 Braille books in the collection are not

affected, said Durivage, the library's program director.

After the mold was discovered, officials realized that basement humidity

levels and the heating and cooling systems were " out of whack, " Durivage

said.

The mold could have caused adverse reactions in readers with allergies or

extreme sensitivities. And the library wanted to ensure that the books it

sends out are in proper condition, she said.

It will be at least a couple of weeks before the collection, which consists

of general reading materials for the visually impaired, reopens, she said.

In the meantime, the library's approximately 450 registered Braille-book

patrons will still have access to books from the library's nationwide

network through the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically

Handicapped, which provides most of the library's books and is part of the

Library of Congress.

" They'll get the books, but it may take three to four days longer to get the

books than if they came directly from us, " Durivage said.

The temperature in the library's basement has been increased and a

dehumidifier will be kept in constant operation, she said.

" We want to keep the environment stable so the mold can have a chance to

grow dormant, " she said. " We are pretty much not giving them moisture. "

After mold growth is thwarted, the books will be cleaned or replaced. In the

long term, the library's heating and cooling system may need renovation.

The library is located on the the campus of the Minnesota State Academy for

the Blind in Faribault. It serves the visually and physically handicapped as

well as people with learning disabilities. It offers audio cassettes,

large-print and Braille books to about 11,000 patrons.

" There is no other library like us in Minnesota, " Durivage said.

-- Kavita Kumar is at kkumar@....