Comfort based investigation on historic libraries for user satisfaction and preservation of paper-based collections

Abstract

Historic libraries preserve cultural heritage values while housing rare manuscripts and paper-based collections. The collections in the libraries are deteriorated chemically, biologically and mechanically due to inappropriate indoor environment conditions such as temperature and relative humidity fluctuations and microbiological conditions. Apart from preserving vulnerable paper-based collections, accommodating of a considerable thermal comfort level for visitors is essential in historic libraries. The aim of this study is to analyse indoor environment of a historic library in terms of thermal comfort and preventive conservation of paper-based collections. Izmir National Library, built in 1933, is selected as a case study. Indoor air temperature, relative humidity and air velocity in the library were monitored with a one-year measurement campaign. Meanwhile, thermal comfort of the visitors was assessed with PMV/PPD indices and thermal sensation surveys. The results show that high chemical degradation risk is detected in the library while biological and mechanical degradations are in the low risk zone. On the other hand, 87% and 93% of the visitors feel thermally satisfied in heating and cooling seasons, respectively.