When it comes to recovering materials from a flood or other disaster, freezing followed by vacuum freeze-drying is one of the most effective methods for removing water from large quantities of books and other paper records. Wet books and papers are some of the most fragile items that can be salvaged, and they can be easily damaged due to swelling and loss of strength when wet. In addition, mold can start to grow when objects are left wet for approximately 72 hours. It is important to be prepared once you return to your home or library after a disaster.
This document provides a quick reference on how to dry out wet materials, but more detailed instructions can be found on the websites at the end.
