Welcome to Enabled Entrepreneurs' Week, Give Yourself Credit Week, and International Friendship Week. Wednesday is the anniversary of the day in 1930 when Elm Farm Ollie became the first cow to fly in an airplane. During the flight, which was attended by reporters, she was milked. The milk was sealed in paper containers and parachuted over St. Louis, the brave bovine's hometown!   
    Friday is the day we've been anticipating for several months: Northern Hemisphere Hoodie-Hoo Day. At high noon (local time) on February 20, citizens are asked to go outdoors and yell "Hoodie-Hoo" to chase away winter and make ready for spring, which is just one month away! Friday also marks the beginning of Second Honeymoon Weekend, for couples to spend some quality time together away from the grind and routine of their everyday lives.

WHAT'S HAPPENING?
    We'll observe Humpback Whale Month with stories, a stick puppet play, and a water-spurting whale craft at Wednesday's 10:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. storytimes. Saturday morning's 10:00 storytime honors African American History Month with tales from Africa. Crafts include making a beaded necklace.
    Sunday, February 22, you're invited to discover the joy of New Mexico books through "Boots, Moccasins, and Gumshoes," a program for all ages presented by Ethel Armstrong and Barbara Harris, editors of "Discover New Mexico, a Reading List." The free program begins at 3:00 p.m. in the Bondurant Room.

BOOK TALK
    Library director Betty Long provides this week's book information. In previous columns, we have discussed how to store books and how to determine if you have a rare vs. old book. In this column, we'll discuss briefly the problems of mold. Mold is a very real concern for libraries and for people who have either large or small book collections. Mold is not only dangerous to the health of your collection, but it is also dangerous to your health. Several libraries in New Mexico, including Thomas Brannigan Memorial Library in Las Cruces, have experienced recent outbreaks of mold.
        If you notice mold on books in your home, the first thing you will want to do is to move the affected materials to a clean area with relative humidity below 45%. Place the moldy objects in sealed plastic bags; this helps prevent contamination of other materials during the move. Fungal growth on wet or damp materials can be arrested by drying, freezing, or freeze drying the materials. If only a few objects are wet, spread them out in an area with low relative humidity and allow them to dry. To avoid scattering spores, do not use fans on moldy materials.
    When dry, the materials should be cleaned. Work outdoors whenever possible and always use protective gear, such as a respirator with a filter that can be changed frequently, disposable plastic gloves, goggles, and appropriate clothing for dirty situations. Disposable clothing is best. To remove mold from paper or book, vacuum it if possible with a multiple-filter vacuum. A wet-dry commercial-strength vacuum can also be used if the tank is filled with a fungicide, such as Lysol, diluted according to label instructions.
    Cleaning moldy materials by brushing with a soft brush is not as safe as vacuuming, but is acceptable for inactive mold if precautions are taken. The area where the moldy books were will also need to be thoroughly cleaned.
    Although it is a popular belief that you can get rid of mold by microwaving a book, literature shows that microwaves do not kill all mold spores and will only kill active mold if heated to the point of damaging the object itself. Microwaving also causes adhesives to melt, leather to soften, and the internal structure of the paper to break down.
    This overview has not gone into great detail on how to handle mold on books, so if you discover you have a mold problem, please ask us. We will be happy to supply you with detailed information on what to do or even give you the names of some specialists who can take care of the mold for you.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK:   "Living with a saint is much more grueling than being one." (unknown)

ROSWELL PUBLIC LIBRARY, JUDY ARMSTRONG, 624-7276

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