From "Outwitting Calamity"
Note: All of the terms here are "defined" in the very limited sense in which they are used during this program. These are not broadly applicable definitions and are provided only to give attendees of this program a means of quick reference. Always check the other handouts for more complete information!
Air-drying: drying technique used for small numbers of damp or slightly wet books or documents. This technique often results in distortion of materials being dried are more than slightly damp.
Blocking: a type of damage to wet paper, particularly clay-coated paper, in which wet sheets of paper fuse together as they dry.
Cockling: a type of damage to wet paper in which the paper as it dries becomes wavy instead of flat.
Dehumidification: Drying technique for use in limited circumstances, involving use of large dehumidifiers to dry damp to moderately wet books and furnishings in place. Must be initiated within 24 hours of disaster to prevent mold growth.
Disaster: An emergency situation of natural or human causes which threatens the library building and its contents and inhabitants.
Disaster plan: A document which outlines procedures to be used and resources to be called upon in the event of a disaster or collection-threatening emergency.
Emergency procedures: A plan of action to respond to an emergency situation.
Environment stabilization: Bringing the environment under control so that the temperature and humidity remain in the desired range in order to minimize further damage to library materials.
Fire detection: System designed to sense the outbreak of a fire and then issue an alert and/or activate a fire suppression system.
Fire suppression: System designed to be activated when a fire detection system senses a fire, and then to put out the fire (e.g., a sprinkler system).
Freezer drying: Drying technique involving use of a self-defrosting blast freezer to dry wet books and documents. Drying may take weeks to months.
Freezing: The response activity of choice for stabilizing most types of wet books or documents; freezing items stops swelling and other distortion and prohibits the growth of mold. Once items are frozen, decisions can be made about how to dry them (such as, vacuum freeze drying).
Hazard assessment: Survey done in order to identify and address circumstances