Step 6: Inspect Suspicious Marks

Visual Examination
This is generally the most important step. Look for something that appears to be spreading within the structure of the book or its pages or along the paper surface, which is distinct from liquids that have soaked into the page. Mold growth can look like tiny legs moving out from an existing stain. Multiple pages may be affected if the mold has eaten through one page and spread to adjacent pages. You are also looking for a raised surface or dusty appearance.

Note that some molds are hard to see. For example, a light grey mold growing on a light-colored book cover may only show up clearly in certain kinds of light. Be sure to look closely, particularly when examining books with signs of past water damage.

In addition, familiarize yourself with what “foxing” looks like. Foxing is the result of acids in paper reacting to moisture in the air. It is a chemical reaction, rather than an indicator of mold. Usually, foxing is a golden yellow, but can also be brown or tan depending upon the paper’s content and the environment the book has been in. Foxing is generally not harmful to a book beyond its appearance.

<previous    next >