Biological Pollution in Libraries: A Case Study of the King Abdulaziz Public Libray, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Biological pollution is a main problem that threatens the environment because of its great risks that negatively affect human health. Such risk is more increased in closed spaces than open ones. Being closed and insufficiently ventilated environment, libraries are highly liable to biological pollution and they may become fertile environments for the causes of pollution. The present study aims at measuring how extent the biological pollution level is in the King Abdulaziz public library in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and how suitable and safe it is as a workplace to librarians and reading place for visitors. It also reveals the librarians' awareness and understanding of biological pollution and its risks. The study uses case study approach and the experimental method to achieve the objectives and answer the questions it raised. It concludes that King Abdelaziz Public library suffers from high air pollution and books may form the most concentrated colonies of bacteria. It finally recommends that environmental factors that help the growth and reproduction of microbes in the internal library environment must be under control, library pollution level must be measured periodically, laws and regulations that maintain a healthy environment for librarians should be enacted and regulated and must be Implemented an environmental management system that contributes effectively to eliminate pollution