Mold in My Library: A Personal Journey Through the Health Impacts of Toxic Mold Illness

Abstract

Many academic libraries are susceptible to toxic mold, leaving a large number of library workers vulnerable to illness. Because the science and study of environmental illness is emerging, many barriers exist in addressing indoor air quality issues. As librarians we are often taught in library school and through professional resources to fear mold in our collections, but not about the impact it can have on our health. Certain academic libraries are susceptible to becoming sick buildings because of when and how they were constructed, as well as higher education practices of deferred HVAC maintenance. Adding water intrusion events and high humidity imbalance only increases the risk of producing poor health effects in these environments. Unfortunately, the health impact caused by mold mycotoxins circulating in the air can remain in libraries long after visible mold cleanup occurs.