USE Books wear out. Low temperature without humidity control does not hamper the growth of mold. MICE chew on books to make bedding for their nests. ACID - sulfur dioxide gas in polluted air reacts with the moisture naturally found in paper to form sulfuric acid. This breaks down the paper's cellulose molecule chains and embrittles it.
Leather is food for fungi, insects and rodents.
During the 1960's and 1970's experimented with poor quality adhesives and paper in efforts to cut production costs. For the past few years there has been a popular misconception that books are going to be replaced by digital formats and that digital formats should be the preservation medium of choice. However, recent research is confirming that digital formats are merely the newest member to join the pantheon of library materials. Libraries must continue to store them, make them available, and, most important, preserve them. Wesleyan should show itself not only to be a keen guardian of the past but a place that well understands the needs of the future by preserving its exemplary library book collection.