Hungary’s Oldest Library, Housing 100,000 Ancient Books, Is Facing A Beetle Invasion Threat

At Pannonhalma Archabbey, a 1000-year-old UNESCO  World Heritage Site, a pest invasion has taken place. The Hungarian medieval building’s oldest library has been threatened by a barrage of beetles that have drilled holes in ancient hand-bound books and created a ruckus in the space housing historical records. Tens of thousands of centuries-old books are being desperately pulled off shelves in an attempt to salvage them.

Pannonhalma Archabbey In Hungary Has Become A Nesting Ground For Beetles

As per a report by The New Indian Express, at Pannonhalma Archabbey, a 1000-year-old sprawling Benedictine monastery, scores have beetles have threatened ancient books of Hungary. Restoration workers have been scrounging to remove over 100,000 handbound books from shelves. They have been shifting the ancient records to crates for a disinfection process underway.

Tiny beetles have made the old Hungarian library their home over the years, with the books their food. Known as the bread beetle, the drugstore beetle is commonly spotted on dried foodstuffs. The insects are often seen feeding on spices, flour and grains. But apart from these edibles, they are also attracted to the gelatin. This is a starch-based adhesives found in books. Threatening to wipe away centuries of history, the tiny creatures have invaded the old library and its ancient books.

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Restoration Experts Work To Preserve Ancient Books Burrowed By Insects

Zsófia Edit Hajdu, the chief restorer of the project threw light on the restoration project at the old library in Hungary. Hajdu admited that they’ve never encountered this massive scame of infection before. And called it an “advanced insect infestation”. The staff at the library first discovered the beetles during routine library cleaning. Unusually thick layers of dust enveloped the shelves. Suspicious, when the books were checked, they witnessed holes burrowed in the books with beetles gnawing through pages.

To salvage the ancient books, they will be sealed in plastic sacks devoid of oxygen. With six weeks in pure nitrogen environment, the beetles would be destroyed and the books would be saved. Before being reshelved, the books would be individually inspected and vacuumed. If any books in the ancient Hungarian library are damaged, they would undergo restoration work.

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The article by TNIE states that climate change is the reason for the rise in beetles at Pannonhalma Archabbey. With higher temperatures and moisture in the old library, the ancient books act as a perfect nesting ground for the insects.

Cover Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons/ Thaler Tamas