A concept developed by the Canadian Conservation Institute (CCI), and used to categorize the ten major threats to collections. By evaluating these threats, libraries can prioritize treatments and establish preventive measures.
Types
Physical Force: Functional damage caused by impact, shock, vibration, pressure, and abrasion. Most physical force is caused by everyday actions (opening and closing a book or turning a page), but damage can also be a single, accidental event like dropping.
Dissociation (Neglect): the physical loss of a collection item, or the detachment of information about the item. The most common form of dissociation is poor metadata.
Fire: Material can be completely destroyed by fire, singed or scorched by flames, or damaged by soot and smoke.
Water: Water will cause inks and dyes to run; warping and sticking of book pages, and mold to form. Wet material is weakened and susceptible to further damage during handling. There is a high risk of mold growth if collection items are left damp for longer than 48 hours.
Pests: Rodents, insects, mold, and fungi are all pests that can chew, stain, and soil collection materials. Silverfish, booklice, and cockroaches are commonly found in paper-based collections. Mold and fungi can grow on all types of materials, even plastic.
Pollutants: Particulates and gases contaminate collections, introducing damaging acids, through the air or direct contact. These pollutants can originate from inside or outside a building, and they can be natural or man-made.
Light and UV Radiation: Natural and artificial light permanently damages all formats. Damage caused by light is most commonly associated with the fading of dyes and pigments; a decrease in the functional strength of paper;. Light also accelerates chemical reactions, interacting with paper and other acidic materials, causing them to darken and become brittle.
Incorrect Temperature: High temperatures accelerate chemical reactions, causing deterioration to occur in all formats. Fluctuations in temperature also damage records.
Incorrect Relative Humidity: Mold and rust can develop in humid environments, while dry environments will cause paper and film materials to become brittle. Fluctuations in relative humidity cause materials to expand and contract as they absorb and release water, which can lead to warping, corrosion, or loss of flexibility.
Theft or Vandalism: Willful damage to a collection that is either premeditated or “crimes of opportunity.”