A Halloween Special from the UCT Libraries Special Collections Conservation Unit 

What Lurks Between the Shelves?

When the lights go out and the reading room falls silent, the real monsters come out to play.

They don't rattle chains or haunt corridors. Instead, they feast on paper, hide in bindings, thrive in damp corners, and leave behind a trail of destruction for conservators to uncover. From mould and moisture to insects with an appetite for history, these are the villains that threaten our heritage every day.

But fear not! We've assembled a pocket-sized  Monster Hunter's Manual  to help you identify these dastardly culprits and learn how to stop them before they claim their next victim. Grab your torch, steady your nerves, and let's meet the monsters lurking in the stacks.

Meet the Monsters!

The Water Wraith  

A leaking roof, burst pipe or unexpected flood can summon the Water Wraith without warning. Pages swell, inks bleed, bindings warp, and just when you think the water has gone, the Mould Monster might arrive for the afterparty.

Water damage can leave behind irreversible staining, distortion and delamination. And, as any conservator knows, one disaster can quickly unleash several monsters at once.

  Monster Hunter's  Manual  

Report leaks and water incidents immediately and follow emergency response procedures. Quick action can make all the difference.

The Mould Monster (aka, the Fuzzy Phantom)  

The Mould Monster loves dark, damp spaces and never arrives alone. Once it settles in, it can stain paper, weaken materials and spread through collections.

  Monster Hunter's  Manual  

Keep moisture under control by monitoring temperature and relative humidity, ensuring good air circulation, and reporting water problems immediately.

If mould is discovered, isolate the affected material and avoid disturbing it — unless you're keen on releasing a cloud of microscopic minions (mould spores)!

The Insect Invader: The Mastermind of Missing Pages

Small, sneaky and constantly hungry, insect pests dine on paper, adhesives, leather and book bindings. Their crimes range from tiny holes to extensive tunnels through priceless documents. The usual suspects include silverfish, booklice, beetles and other six-legged criminals.

But these culprits don't always reveal themselves. Sometimes the only clues are tiny exit holes, powdery deposits, damaged bindings or mysterious trails of destruction.

  Monster Hunter's  Manual  

Not every insect is guilty! Correct identification is essential. 

Regular inspections and good housekeeping are the best ways to catch these culprits before they cause serious damage.

The Crumbling Curse: The Brittle Beast

Time can be cruel. Ageing and chemical deterioration can leave paper weak, brittle and vulnerable to tearing. One careless page turn can transform a document into a historical jigsaw puzzle… without the picture on the box.

Acidic paper is particularly vulnerable to long-term chemical deterioration, which weakens its fibres and can leave once-sturdy pages crumbling at the slightest touch.

  Monster Hunter's  Manual  

Handle fragile materials as little as possible. 

When handling is necessary, proceed with extra care, support vulnerable pages and never force a book open wider than it comfortably allows.

The Ink Vampire: The Bloodsucker of the Archives

Some historic inks, particularly iron gall ink, slowly consume the very paper they were written on, leaving cracks, losses and holes behind. History, unfortunately, can sometimes eat itself.

When ink corrosion combines with damage from old adhesive tape, the result can be especially devastating, leaving documents discoloured, weakened and so fragile that even handling them becomes difficult.

  Monster Hunter's  Manual  

Handle affected documents carefully and seek professional conservation advice. This is one monster that cannot be defeated with garlic.

The Sticky Spectre: The Ghost of Repairs Past

Once thought helpful, old sticky tape and unsuitable adhesives can stain paper, become brittle and cause further damage over time. Yesterday's quick fix often becomes today's conservation headache.

  Monster Hunter's  Manual  

Step away from the stationery cupboard. The sticky tape has done enough!

Resist the urge to fix torn pages with household tape or glue. What seems like a harmless repair can cause more damage over time.

The Humidity Ghost: The Invisible Menace

Unseen but harmful, sudden changes in temperature and relative humidity can cause cockled pages, accelerated acidification, distorted leather bindings and, of course, the return of our favourite villain: Mould!

Everyone talks about high humidity as the scary monster under the bed, and for good reason. It encourages mould growth and can cause materials to swell, warp and weaken.

But don't forget about its equally troublesome cousin… low humidity! When the air becomes too dry, paper can become brittle, leather can lose flexibility and crack, and parchment bindings may shrink, distort or even split.

In collections care, it's not just about avoiding moisture monsters — it's about keeping the balance just right.

  Monster Hunter's  Manual  

Monitor environmental conditions and report unusual fluctuations. Prevention is the best defence against this elusive villain.

The Dust Demon: The Silent Collector

Dust may seem harmless, but it attracts pests, harbours mould spores, traps moisture and settles deep into bindings and shelving.

Left unchecked, this seemingly innocent visitor can become an accomplice to some of the most destructive monsters in the stacks.

  Monster Hunter's   Manual  

Inspect and clean collections regularly using appropriate equipment and safe methods.

Put away the feather duster; this demon needs careful handling.

No Garlic, Silver Bullets or Exorcists Required

The good news? Most archive monsters can be kept at bay through good housekeeping, proper storage, regular inspections, safe handling and quick action when problems arise.

And remember, these monsters rarely work alone. Water damage can lead to staining, mould growth and distortion. Pest activity can cause physical damage while introducing contaminants. Poor environmental conditions can result in brittleness, warping and structural weakness.

One seemingly small problem can set off a chain reaction of deterioration, threatening both the condition of our collections and their accessibility.

Protecting collections is a team effort. Every librarian who spots a leak, archivist who reports damage and conservator who stabilises a fragile document helps keep these monsters at bay.

So keep your eyes peeled and your monster-hunting skills sharp, because the scariest thing in any archive isn't a ghost hiding between the shelves. It's a problem that goes unnoticed until it's too late.