Effective Cleaning Is The Foundation For Healthier, More Welcoming Libraries
In this week’s Princh Library Blog, recurring guest writer Nina Grant shares some advice on how to keep libraries clean; and the role cleanliness plays in creating a welcoming space. Enjoy!
92% of consumers consider cleanliness as the deciding factor in whether or not they become repeat customers of a business, a recent study by Ipsos reveals. For libraries, clean and hygienic interiors aren’t just essential to preserve books, they also create a welcoming, peaceful, and pleasant atmosphere that attracts loyal patrons. Libraries should therefore regularly sanitise surfaces, eliminate dust, and maintain healthy air quality to create a clean, healthy, and uplifting space that keeps staff and patrons happy.
Regularly sanitise high-touch surfaces
All high-contact surfaces (desks, tables, door handles, and light switches) should be sanitised daily to keep them fresh and hygienic. Shockingly, the average desk can harbour 400 times more germs than a toilet seat. If not regularly disinfected, E-coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and other harmful bacteria can breed on unclean desks and other library furniture — all which have the potential to make unsuspecting visitors sick. Fortunately, bacteria and germs can be eradicated with green disinfectants. Green cleaning products kill germs and bacteria just as effectively as conventional products, but they don’t contain toxic ingredients that can irritate the eyes, throat, and skin. This creates a healthier, more comfortable space for patrons.
Library computer equipment should also be cleaned every few months. Similar to dirty desks, the average unclean computer keyboard harbours over 3,000 germs per square inch, while computer mouses can have over 1,500. In addition to grossness, built up grease and grime can also decrease operational performance over time, which means cleaning can actually extend equipment lifespan. Specialist cleaners can carefully eliminate dirt and bacteria without damage to the hardware in the process, so staff and patrons can continue to use the equipment without issue.
Eliminate dust with HEPA vacuums
A vacuum with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter should also be used to get rid of dust in libraries. HEPA vacuums differ from conventional ones as they suck up and actually trap dust, so it doesn’t blow back out into the library environment. HEPA filters are designed to capture over 99.9% of particles as small as 0.3 microns in size, which means unwanted allergens like dust, dirt, or pollen don’t stand a chance against them.
Regular vacuuming is particularly important as accumulated dust can damage books over time (and even cause them to fall apart). Dust is also unpleasant for visitors to deal with, and can cause allergy symptoms in those with sensitivities. The floor should ideally be vacuumed daily, while the stacks also need to be vacuumed at least once a week. However, a soft brush and a gentle suction setting should be used here, so as to protect the books.
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Maintain healthy indoor air
Did you know levels of indoor air pollution are usually between two to five times higher than outdoor concentrations? In libraries, volatile-organic compounds (VOCs) are a huge air polluter to know about. VOCs are invisible and, in many cases, you can’t even smell them, but that doesn’t make this group of pervasive chemicals any less toxic. They’re commonly emitted from paper, ink, furniture, carpet, paints, and synthetic cleaning products, and high levels of exposure can result in symptoms like headaches and asthma.
Regularly opening the windows — even if it’s just for a few minutes a day — is the easiest way to increase ventilation and reduce VOCs. Warm temperatures and high humidity levels can also increase the concentration of VOCs emitted into the air. So, it’s important to keep temperatures below 70°F (~21°C), and maintain humidity levels between 30%-50% (this aids book preservation, too).
Gentle yet effective cleaning routines are essential to keep libraries fresh and hygienic. So, take care to adopt the right practices, and you’ll successfully create a welcoming, clean library that attracts loyal patrons.
We will be back with another interesting article from the library world soon!
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