{"id":919,"date":"2020-08-31T14:38:52","date_gmt":"2020-08-31T18:38:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mblc.state.ma.us\/mblc_blog\/?p=919"},"modified":"2020-09-01T09:38:50","modified_gmt":"2020-09-01T13:38:50","slug":"919","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mblc.state.ma.us\/mblc_blog\/2020\/08\/31\/919\/","title":{"rendered":"Project REALM Findings and Their Impact"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Evan Knight, Preservation Specialist at the MBLC
\n<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Last week IMLS, OCLC, and their research partner Battelle Labs released updated findings on their library-related research on SARS-CoV-2 through Project REALM<\/a>. Obviously, these findings can help us to make more informed decisions as many of us ramp up various levels of in-person library services. I\u2019d like to take a few moments to frame their work in the context of larger public safety protocols, summarize their findings so far, and provide links to additional information.<\/p>\n

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  1. Remember that virus transmission is primarily through the air.<\/u><\/strong>^1,2,3<\/sup> Minimizing risks of virus transmission through materials is obviously a very serious consideration, and one in which the REALM Project is doing great research. Yet any efforts in the continuing development of safe and rigorous approaches materials handling will be lost if we overlook the fundamental importance of minimizing person-to-person interactions and social distancing.<\/li>\n
  2. The Commonwealth\u2019s safety protocols provide a reasonable framework to work with.<\/u><\/strong>^4<\/sup>\u00a0 \u00a0Safety standards for Libraries have been developed by the Commonwealth and can be useful. They were released last month so they\u2019re not new, but if you haven\u2019t considered them yet, they provide a good starting point framework to safety consider issues, with information organized into four topics: social distancing (including mask protocols), enhanced hygiene procedures, staffing & operations policies, and enhanced cleaning & disinfecting.<\/li>\n
  3. Project REALM Results and Quarantine for Materials.<\/u><\/strong>^5,6,7<\/sup> Project REALM released three studies and one webinar which provide helpful information as well as new questions; two more studies are planned and findings will be likely released next month. The following table shows the materials tested so far, and the length of time it took until an initial deposit of virus was completely undetectable (below \u201cLOD\u201d) at \u2018normal\u2019 room temperature and humidity.^8<\/sup><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    REALM Project Testing Summary<\/u><\/strong>^9<\/sup><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Material<\/u><\/strong><\/td>\nStorage method<\/u><\/strong><\/td>\nNumber of Days until below LOD<\/u><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Hardback book cover (buckram cloth)<\/td>\nOpen air<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Softback book cover<\/td>\nOpen air<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Plastic book covering (biaxially oriented polyester film)<\/td>\nOpen air<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Plain paper pages<\/td>\nClosed<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Braille paper pages<\/td>\nClosed<\/td>\n4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Glossy paper pages<\/td>\nClosed<\/td>\n4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Magazine pages<\/td>\nClosed<\/td>\n\u201cTrace amounts at 4 days\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Children\u2019s board book pages<\/td>\nClosed<\/td>\n4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Archival folders<\/td>\nStacked together<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    DVD case<\/td>\nOpen air<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    DVD\/CD disc<\/td>\nOpen air<\/td>\n5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Talking book, USB cassettes<\/td>\nOpen air<\/td>\nOver 5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Acrylic display cases\/partitions<\/td>\nOpen air<\/td>\nOver 5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Storage bags (flexible low-density polyethylene (LDPE) recycling #4)<\/td>\nOpen air<\/td>\n5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Storage containers (rigid high-density polyethylene (HDPE), recycling #2)<\/td>\nOpen air<\/td>\nOver 5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

    It is important to keep in mind that three important questions remain unanswered from REALM testing that impact how to interpret their results:<\/p>\n