Libraries should be of utmost importance and ensure that their books will be taken care of.
In my sophomore year, I took a class called Library Services. During registration the previous year I didn’t even know it was a class, I saw it and it piqued my interest, and I thought it would be an easy pass. However, through it I learned so much more. In this class you’re taught how the library works and its different parts. It wasn’t until that class that I found out we had an amazing selection of pacific literature ranging from present day to old Hawaii.
The thing about old books is that they need special care in order to preserve it and ensure that it does not mold endangering students, teachers and other books. The solution is to keep these books away from moisture and kept at a certain temperature, according to the Art Institute of Chicago they should specifically be kept at 68-72º F with 40-50% RH, or relative humidity. The school does take these precautions for these valuable books however only during the day when the library is open, not for the other sixteen and half hours.
The books that the libraries hold within the walls are important sources of information students of all grade levels can use and need for some classes. By not keeping the conditions of these books ideal the school is jeopardizing the books and in return knowledge that we may not be able to get back.
Kumu’s, working in the library, have asked many times for this to be changed, to ensure the books would be kept pristine however it has simply been brushed off.
Books are the basis of knowledge and although the same information may be able to be found on the internet it’s important to keep these primary sources and connections to our history safe.
