Mold Crisis Endangers 10,000 Rare Books at Calicut University Library

Mold damage in Calicut University's Botany library affects 10,000 books due to humidity from a lab below, with no permanent librarian for access.

on Nov 04, 2024

A collection of around 10,000 books in the Botany Department library at Calicut University has suffered damage from mold, with the pages of many important books now degraded beyond recognition.

The mold problem is linked to the extreme cooling in the Central Sophisticated Instrumentation Facility (C-SiF) lab located directly beneath the library. The subsequent high humidity has seeped into the library, resulting in extensive mold growth on the books. According to students, water collects on the floor during the rainy season, creating slippery conditions, and this issue continues even during summer. The severity of this problem has persisted for more than a year.

Moisture on the floors and in the air has facilitated mold growth on the library's books and shelves. The library and C-SiF lab share the same building, with the library on the top floor and the lab below. The lab keeps a strictly controlled, low temperature through air cooling to protect research materials. However, this extreme cold is harming the books located above.

Numerous books are in such poor shape that they are unopenable; they are delicate and crumbling, with the majority of pages having yellowed and decayed. This collection is rare and essential for botany students, yet many of the books have already been ruined. The books on open shelves are almost destroyed, and those on closed shelves have also started to deteriorate.

Currently, there is no permanent librarian in the Botany Department library, which restricts students' access. The former librarian encountered health issues while working there and was transferred to another library last year. Now, a temporary librarian from the Nanoscience Department oversees the library. When students wish to borrow a book, they must call upon this librarian to unlock the library, and then they can retrieve the book and leave.

This situation has been frequently discussed, but a resolution has yet to be reached. University officials recently stated that they anticipate a prompt solution. Complaints began approximately a year and a half ago, and inquiries indicated that the temperature in the C-SiF lab could be the culprit. The installation of a dehumidifier or air conditioner has been suggested as a possible fix, but these solutions have yet to be put into action. Authorities have also mentioned that plans are underway to move the library.

Vice Chancellor Dr. P Ravindran acknowledged the issue and instructed the department head to take measures. The Engineering Department will be responsible for investigating the precise cause of the humidity problem in the current library building and carrying out a solution.