In The Library

[KG4CGC]

Around here, all libraries smelled of acid based paper, read that as paper mill smell that was old but still pungent, and vomit. What did janitors back in the day use to clean up vomit? Something that also smelled of vomit. It wasn't until my later teen years that they pulled up the vomit carpet that was laid down over the hardwood floors in the early 60's. This really helped with the smell but there was still all that old acid based paper. It was about late 90's early 2000's that they did a total remodel, reconstruction of the Greenville Public Library and this included the children's branch. Haz-Mat was there for the collection of asbestos but there was also mold in most of the walls and support structures that were covered with plaster.

Up until the last couple years, I could always tell the day they started airing out the schools from the Summer months. The air would be filled with the smell of old books and vomit. This has been happening less as every year they find a ton of mold somewhere and then they teardown and sterilize.

[n2ize]

Around here, all libraries smelled of acid based paper, read that as paper mill smell that was old but still pungent, and vomit. What did janitors back in the day use to clean up vomit? Something that also smelled of vomit. It wasn't until my later teen years that they pulled up the vomit carpet that was laid down over the hardwood floors in the early 60's. This really helped with the smell but there was still all that old acid based paper. It was about late 90's early 2000's that they did a total remodel, reconstruction of the Greenville Public Library and this included the children's branch. Haz-Mat was there for the collection of asbestos but there was also mold in most of the walls and support structures that were covered with plaster.

Up until the last couple years, I could always tell the day they started airing out the schools from the Summer months. The air would be filled with the smell of old books and vomit. This has been happening less as every year they find a ton of mold somewhere and then they teardown and sterilize.

Round here libraries smelled from enamel based paint... particularly when the steam came up and the painted radiators got hot. In the summer there was a slight moldy smell, perhaps from all the books and the humidity.

[KG4CGC]

Round here libraries smelled from enamel based paint... particularly when the steam came up and the painted radiators got hot. In the summer there was a slight moldy smell, perhaps from all the books and the humidity.

Ah yes, I forgot about the paint smell too. Paint that absorbed and held on to odors for years.
In the 80's there was a smokers lounge inside the library. Today, you can not even smoke near a library. Some sections of downtown do not allow smoking anywhere.
I realize that I'm coming off as pooing on your thread. I'm not trying to. It is just the first thing that came to mind. Perhaps I should have used that filter before typing.

There is a branch close to me that I visited a few times last year. It was built within the last 8 years. It smelled of coffee. There is a coffee shop inside and there are rooms that hold acetate microfilm that can only be accessed by library personnel wearing body suits that they must put on after passing through a dust removal chamber. There are reference sections that require similar action.