If mold develops in the non-contaminated material, the chances are that either the drying was not done correctly or that drying was not complete. However they must not be returned to the library or archive shelves until the mold contamination has been treated. For this reason we recommend that at the end of the drying cycle and while still in the drying chamber all mold-contaminated material be sterilized. If extreme care was not taken to separate contaminated from non-contaminated materials before the drying operation, we recommend that each drying load be sterilized. If maximum benefits are to be gained from stabilization by freezing, every effort should be made, first, to identify and assess the value, condition, and total numbers and types of materials damaged, and second, to draw up comprehensive lists of those materials which can be replaced and those which should be reclaimed and restored.
Replacement is nearly always cheaper than restoration.
Volumes to be reclaimed will need to be evaluated in terms of the amount of restoration needed and probable costs. The best time to make such judgments, if a disaster preparedness plan does not exist, is after the volumes have been dried and before they are returned to the library or archive shelves. The following represent basic steps that need to be taken after drying in order to begin returning the material to normal housing environments. It is important when preparing specification for a drying contract that acceptable water content is not specified as an average of a books total water content. Do not store the material in un-opened boxes immediately upon return from the drying facilities, even if this seems to be the most convenient action to take.