Integrated Pest Management Ipm In Museums Archives And Historic Houses

A working guide to help people recognise insect, rodent and bird pests and take practical steps to prevent and control damage to collections.

"... a practical, colour-illustrated, working handbook for the curator, conservator and all persons concerned with the management of collections. It is an essential guide to the recognition of insect, rodent and bird pests with advice on the practical steps required to prevent and control damage to collections. The latest information on the trapping and detection of pests is presented together with guidelines for pest recording. The author explains the advantages and disadvantages of physical and chemical control measures, including concerns about the use of pesticides and their effects on staff and the environment. In addition, he demonstrates that Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is not only a safer option, but also a more cost-effective solution to the complex problems of pest control. This book offers comprehensive guidance for the necessary action and treatment of any pest problem likely to be encountered in museums, galleries, libraries, archives and historic houses."--Back cover.

Integrated pest management (IPM) is not a static approach but one that is constantly evolving. Mass international travel, climate change and other factors contribute to the spread of new pests, and the pests themselves are constantly seeking out weaknesses in our defences. An understanding of the threats pests pose to collections and the necessity for a systematic approach to combat them is now firmly embedded in the work of collection care practitioners. In addition, the trustees and sponsoring bodies of collecting institutions recognise that it is a significant and cost-effective element of good collections management. 2011: A Pest Odyssey, 10 years later describes examples of how the IPM approach has been adopted by large and small institutions around the world, and highlights the many lessons learned along the way. Principal among these is never to become complacent and tied down to routine processes. Another important lesson is the need to ensure colleagues understand and are involved with the process of pest management. There is also a need to understand the wider implications of any pest control activity, for example the effect of chemical treatments on DNA. Coming out of the second Pest Odyssey conference, this book will promote wider understanding and implementation of IPM as an integral part of any collection management programme. The organisers and editorial team hope that everyone involved with the care of cultural heritage collections and buildings will find something of interest and value in this work.

A serious problem facing museum professionals is the protection of collections from damage due to insects. This book describes successful insect eradication procedures developed at the Getty Conservation Institute and elsewhere, whereby objects are held in an atmosphere of either nitrogen or argon containing less than 1000 ppm of oxygen—a process known as anoxia—or in an atmosphere of more than 60 percent carbon dioxide. Techniques, materials, and operating parameters are described in detail. The book also discusses adoption of this preservation technology, presenting the development of these methods and instructions for building and upgrading treatment systems, as well as recent case histories. The Research in Conservation reference series presents the findings of research conducted by the Getty Conservation Institute and its individual and institutional research partners, as well as state-of-the-art reviews of conservation literature. Each volume covers a topic of current interest to conservators and conservation scientists.

This collection of papers and posters presented at the ICON conference A Pest Odyssey - The Next Generation is evidence that integrated pest management (IPM) has been adopted globally as the accepted strategy within the cultural heritage sector to mitigate the risk posed to our unique collections by damaging pests.