Introduction
Adocentyn Research Library is a multicultural and inter-religious nonprofit based in Albany, California. Founded in 2011, the library houses more than 17,000 volumes, serving the East Bay and the wider community through on-site access and research.
Conservator Katya Madrid, MSc., of Red Dragon Conservation, helped Adocentyn implement Conserv as part of their preventive conservation plan. Sensors tracked temperature and relative humidity, with data shared among several board members through the Conserv app.
Don H. Frew, founding board member of the Adocentyn Library. Photo Credit: Katya Madrid
The Challenge
In early 2023, a series of powerful atmospheric river storms hit the San Francisco Bay Area, which caused challenges for the historic building that houses the library. Clogged roof drains, sidewalk construction that interfered with water flow, and a glass-roofed reading room all combined and caused water to intrude the library space.
By the time anyone realized what was happening, water was pooling across the carpeted reading room, bookshop and research area, all housed in the same room. While the rarest materials were stored in another area, a huge portion of books, documents, and equipment in this space were at risk of irreversible damage.
The Solution
Instant alerts proved invaluable during one of these storms when humidity readings spiked sharply. A board member received the alert and informed Katya. When she reviewed the data, she immediately recognized the danger. This wasn’t typical Bay area fog, it was a sign of active water intrusion.
“That spike wasn’t fog. It was disaster-level. The data told us to act now.”
– Katya Madrid, MSc., Head Conservator, Red Dragon Conservation
Katya arrived at the library first thing in the morning, bringing wet/dry vacuums and directional “snail” fans. Working with board members, she led a rapid response effort:
- Books and materials were moved to higher ground.
- Standing water was extracted from the carpet.
- Fans were set up to circulate air along walls and floors, preventing mold.
A wet vac was used to remove excess moisture out of the carpet. Photo Credit: Katya Madrid
A “snail fan” evaporated the remaining moisture to prevent mold. Photo Credit: Katya Madrid
Results
After about two weeks, the reading room was dry, books were safely reshelved, and most importantly, no mold developed anywhere in the affected area.
“ We got zero mold. Not on the carpet, not on the books. They alerted the landlord. The landlord fixed the roof, talked to the city and freed that channel. Now water is going where it’s supposed to go. The investigation happened and the problem was solved.”
– Katya Madrid
The success of that rapid response inspired permanent improvements:
- The library purchased its own shop-vac and drying fans.
- A simple disaster checklist now hangs in the reading room for volunteers.
- The landlord repaired the roof and drainage systems to prevent recurrence.
Board member Anna Korn credits the experience with transforming how the organization manages its space:
“The board learned a lot about what can be expected environmentally at the library location. Now we are better prepared to respond, and more importantly, prevent problems.”
– Anna Korn, Board Member, Adocentyn Research Library
Takeaways
This story highlights how small institutions can leverage real-time data to protect irreplaceable collections, even with limited environmental monitoring sensors in place.
- Prevention costs less than repair. One mold outbreak can mean thousands in treatment and permanent damage.
- Data builds consensus. Logged humidity trends make a strong case for facility repairs and funding.
- Empowered teams respond faster. Shared access and clear procedures enable quick, coordinated action.
- Conserv offers leak detection sensors that can alert to water intrusion even sooner than this story. Learn more by connecting with us.
Want to learn more about how Conserv can help protect your collection? Book some time with our team to discuss your needs.
