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Air Drying Technique

BOOKS

  • Protect yourself, using aprons, and gloves. Change these frequently, for your own comfort and to avoid contamination building up and moving from one set of books to another.
  • Cover tables--with plastic and with blotting paper.
  • Place books on their heads (reverse periodically). If only wet on edges, lay flat, and begin interleaving.
  • Use supports--non-metal bookends and toothpicks under covers--if needed to prop books up, and use sponges to wipe up excess water and change blotting paper frequently.
  • Train fans into air. Turn on dehumidifiers.
  • When pages begin to separate, open boards more.
  • As book begins to dry, interleave absorbent paper (such as paper towel) throughout book, every twenty leaves or so. But don't use so many that they cause distortion.
  • Change sheets as they become wet--every 2-3 hrs or so. (Frequent changes speed drying.) Do not keep wet interleaving sheets in area which you are trying to keep dry. (Throw away into garbage bags, and take the bags out of the area when they begin to fill up.)
  • Covers will be last to dry out. You may want to place film between covers and textblock. Check frequently for mold growth.
  • When book is almost dry, leave fanned open, with no interleaving sheets. It may take about 2 weeks to go from this stage to completely dry.
  • Can also dry individual signatures (pamphlets or parts of disbound books) on 20-40 test monofilament line.
  • When book is quite dry manipulate gently to help return to original shape. Then lay flat. Put a light weight on it to reduce distortion. Do not stack books on top of each other. Inspect frequently for mold.
  • Once book is completely dry, heavier weights or book press can be used.
  • Do not return to shelf until completely dry (6 to 8 percent moisture content--this varies by geographic area)

FLAT PAPER

The technique for wet records is similar to books. Actually they are easier to dry. They are less complex--only one medium, paper.
  • Lay single pages out on tables on top of absorbent paper. Or lay across monofilament "shelf" made of several stands strung close together.
  • If piles are not too high and paper is not coated, you may put several layers, at first, with a piece of pellon non-woven interfacing between sheets.
  • If documents are valuable only for their information, they may be photocopied, as soon as they are dry enough (can still be damp).