[padg] Re: Co-libri cover material

["Jane Cullinane" <JCullinane@xxxxxxxxx>]

Before the Connecticut State Library began using the CoLibri covers, the vendor gave me a copy of a report called Colibri cover book system cover film, dated Oct. 19, 2000 by R. Scott Williams of the Canadian Conservation Institute (Proteus No. 7976, Registry File no. 5125-4.) CCI examined a sample to  "assess its suitability for conservation applications." The report was done for International Binding and Laminating Systems, the original vendor of the CoLibri system. You have to consider what kind of plastic and what additives are used.

The report says the "book covers are made of low density polyethylene [LDPE] containing a small amount of alkyl amide slip agents. No other additives were detected." (p.1)  Polyethylene, itself, is suitable for conservation. The concern would be with the slip agents, which keep two books covered with the plastic from sticking to each other when you want to pull one off the shelf. Reports of some glossy photographs sticking to LDPE under severe conditions are inconclusive and may be due to factors other than the slip agent. Because of the low concentrations of the slip agent and no reports of chemical damage attributed to slip agents after Photographic Activity Tests or after many years of use, "I believe alkyl amide slip agents are not harmful. ... Neither the problems of sticking to glossy photograph surfaces or scratching of photographic materials which have be[en] described for LDPE with slip agents is likely to be of any consequence for the intended use of Colibri book covers on books." (p.8) Although the vendor's literature claims that the covers will protect against UV, there are no additives present to protect the book from UV radiation.

Based on the findings of that report, the State Library has covered thousands of general collection books, many with rotting leather covers. We have not used them on books in Special Collections.

In the eight years since this report, I wonder if the manufacturer has changed the formula in any way and if there has been further research to demonstrate how suitable LDPE and its additives are.

--Jane

Jane F. Cullinane
Preservation Librarian, Collection Management Unit
Connecticut State Library
231 Capitol Ave., Hartford,  CT  06106-1537
860-757-6524, fax: 860-757-6559
jcullinane@xxxxxxxxx     http://www.cslib.org

>>> "Grant, Tyra" <tgrant@xxxxxx> 11/6/08  6:00 PM >>>
How much does anyone know about the Co-libri covering material?  How safe should we consider it? The box says it's 100% polyethylene---in fact, it also claims the covers protect against light damage.  We were just wondering because special collections librarians asked.  We use Co-libri covers to protect many non-artifactual books, especially books with dust jackets that require saving, but we really don't know much more except they provide effective and affordable physical protection for many of our collections.
Thanks,
Tyra Grant 
Head, Preservation Department
University of Kansas Libraries

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