Indoor environmental factors, such as microclimatic conditions (viz., the temperature and relative humidity) and pollutant concentrations, crucially affect the exhibits and artworks in a museum. To evaluate the air quality inside the library hosted by the Museum of Geoastrophysics of the National Observatory of Athens, a monitoring campaign was performed during summertime (August 2016). The findings were compared against scientifically accepted standards and recommended conditions for repositories and paperwork exhibition areas. The temperature and the relative humidity proved to be the most critical threats to the book collection, with the measured temperatures exceeding the recommended limits. Both parameters also displayed diurnal fluctuations, which are not recommended. Synergistically, these uncontrolled conditions contribute to book deterioration on a long-term basis, resulting in color and mechanical damage to the fibers and the growth of mold. Furthermore, despite only moderate infiltration, the library exhibited unacceptably high levels of pollutants, such as SO2, NO 2 and O 3 , which also cause the embrittlement and discoloration of paper as well as a weakening or powdering of leather book covers.
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