The recently launched Sustainable Archives and Greener Approaches project, or SAGA, has kicked off at the Historical Archives of the European Union (HAEU) with a visit from scientists affiliated with the Slovak Academy of Sciences’ (SAS) Institute of Molecular Biology, a partner in the project.
Two molecular biologists, Domenico Pangallo and Nikola Klistincova, spent three days in Florence collecting microbial samples from five areas within the Archives’ environment, as well as from selected documents in the holdings. These samples will be analysed over the coming weeks to determine whether the air is clean, safe for users, and conducive to the long-term preservation of the Archives' documents.
The work was carried out as part of the project’s work package on risk prevention and disaster risk management, led by the SAS.
Something in the Air
“Air contamination is a key indicator of the indoor environment and affects the safety of people working there,” explained Domenico. “If the air is polluted with microorganisms, it suggests there’s a problem.”
During their visit, Domenico and Nikola collected several air samples from different areas at the HAEU: from the reading room, from the archival deposits, from the archivists’ main work area, and from the digitisation room. The samples will be analysed using two methods. The first involves culturing the microorganisms (culture-dependent) captured from one cubic meter of suctioned air, which will provide an estimated count of the concentration of microorganisms present in each environment. The second method (culture-independent) involves genetic sequencing of the captured microorganisms' DNA, enabling the scientists to specifically identify the types of fungi and bacteria present in each particular area.
The same two methods will be used to analyse samples taken directly from documents, using two different types of sampling tools: swabs and membranes.
“A Very Clean Archive”
While culturing, sequencing, analysis and interpretation will take several weeks, Domenico, who has 15 years of experience studying cultural heritage objects and their surrounding environments, noted that the Historical Archives appears to be “a very clean archive.”
However, these positive conditions must be continually monitored and safeguarded. Archivists should also be careful when opening newly arrived boxes from uncontrolled environments.
For instance, a recently transferred batch of private archives shows signs of previous water damage and discoloration, which is often indicative of mold.
“It would be advisable to open them in a biohazard laminar flow cabinet, if this is not available then open them outside, but always wearing a mask and gloves,” the two scientists cautioned the archivists.
SAGA: Taking on risk prevention and greening in archives
The newly launched European cooperation project SAGA (Sustainable Archives and Greener Approaches) is led by the National Archives of Spain. With the participation of 12 total partners, SAGA seeks to understand and start a discussion among archival institutions on resilience to risks; to develop innovative strategies and smart solutions to those risks; to train staff and other key actors in the areas of risk resilience and greener practices; to foster the adoption of more sustainable practices and methodologies by archives; to generate a greater added value, profitability, visibility and economic return of European archives, through the identification and implementation of new business models and activities; and to broaden the visibility of the European heritage, history and culture through the participating archives and the transnational mobility of work and professionals.