'Sniffing' technology for old books

13 April 2008 12:00am

A pioneering project to chemically "sniff" books could determine a tome's state of health and help protect valuable volumes from decay, scientists have revealed.

And the innovative technique could uncover what creates the distinctive musty smell familiar from antique bookshops.

The system, being developed at the University of Strathclyde, involves placing a book in a sealed chamber for between 24 and 48 hours.

Materials responsible for creating the book's odour are extracted and then examined to determine the "health" of the volume.

Scientists plan to study between 20 and 30 books, a combination of paperbacks and hardbacks, dating from the 19th century to the present day.

By finding out which have decayed most, the researchers can work out the best conditions in which to store them.

It is hoped this will guide librarians in storing their collections in the most suitable surroundings to protect against decay.

Jim Lewicki, a post-doctoral researcher leading the project, said: "We're looking at the differences between books stored well for years and books stored badly for years. The end result of this could identify an attack of mould or degradation."

The three-month project uses a system called Thermal Volatilisation Analysis, which was developed in the 1960s.

The technique had fallen into disuse, but is now being revived in the project run by Strathclyde scientists in partnership with the British Library.

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