It’s Not Easy Being Green–The Challenge of Having Poisonous Arsenic Containing Books in a National Library Collection

Abstract

Poisonous books in library collections with public access pose a specific challenge due to the fact that library staff and readers handle collection items intensely. This article describes the quest of the KB National Library of the Netherlands in how to deal specifically with arsenic used in colorants for library materials. It addresses the challenges of not knowing which collection items contain poisonous arsenic components, whether or not their presence constitutes a health risk, as well as dealing with official hygiene laws and regulations in handling arsenic. It describes two lines of research carried out by the library: one addressing the potential exposure to arsenic when handling these items and the other identifying arsenic containing items in the collections. The overall results of the exposure research do not show a direct link between increased arsenic levels found in the biomonitoring study and the work environment (at this specific library, at the time of testing). However, arsenic was found on work surfaces and tools used while handling arsenic containing objects. Legal health and safety regulations stipulate strict hygiene measures, which at first glance appear somewhat paradoxical to the outcome of the exposure study. Libraries have the duty to implement hygiene measures to ensure safe handling of these materials by staff and readers. The article describes the quest of the KB National Library of the Netherlands in dealing with books containing arsenic and will discuss the specific challenge and possible opportunity of the upcoming relocation of the entire collection to a new external robotized storage facility.