Integrated Pest Management for Cultural Heritage

This glossary lists some of the terms in wide use across the site.

Best Practice: Commendable actions and philosophies that successfully solve problems, can be replicated, and demonstrate an awareness of standards. (Merritt, 2005)

Infestation: The presence of insects or animals in large enough numbers to cause damage, by living on or within cultural heritage collections or property.  Damage resulting from an infestation may include any of the following: loss or erosion of material; exit holes and tunnels; pest debris such as frass, webbing and larval casts; rodent and bird droppings; as well as the presence of live insects and animals.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM): A strategy that emphasizes prevention and minimizes the use of toxic chemicals to manage and eliminate pests.

Integrated Pest Management Plan: A written document that defines the purpose, goals and parameters of the IPM program. It explains current and planned IPM initiatives. (Adapted from Tompkins, 2005)

Integrated Pest Management Policy: A written statement that is approved by the governing body of the institution. The policy provides direction for achieving the IPM program’s purposes and objectives. It also describes the principles which govern IPM activity, practices and operations and specifies the delegation of responsibility and authority for the IPM program. The IPM policy must be supported with IPM procedures and an IPM plan. (Adapted from Tompkins, 2005)

Integrated Pest Management Procedures: A written, manual type document that addresses the direct implementation of the IPM Policy. It sets guidelines, directives and formats and guides staff in their day to day work as they administer the IPM program. Unlike IPM policies, revisions and updates to the procedures do not require approval from the governing body of the institution. (Adapted from Tompkins, 2005)

Pest: A living organism that harms cultural heritage collections or property, and/or hinders the ability for an institutions staff to achieve its mission.

Standard: A generally accepted level of attainment for use as a basis of comparison in measuring or judging performance. (Merritt, 2005)

Glossary Sources:

Linnie, Martyn J. 1996. Integrated Pest Management: A Proposed Strategy for Natural History Museums. Museum Management and Curatorship 15 (2):133-143

Merritt, Elizabeth. 2005 “Standards of Stewardship” presentation at the annual meeting of The Association of College and University Museums and Galleries April 30th in Bloomington, Indiana

Tompkins, William G. 2005 “Collections Stewardship: An Introduction to Collection Management Policies” presented at the Collections Management Workshop of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, April 8 in Tarrytown, N

Prior to World War II there was some use of chemicals like heavy metal compounds (lead, mercury, arsenic) to preserve collections but experimentation with nerve gasses during World War II gave rise to a new crop of organic compounds that were found to have insecticidal qualities includingcarbamates, organophosphates and organochlorines such as DDT.  We became increasingly reliant on their use as they increased our food production and removed insects that carried diseases.  But this ultimately lead to a chemical crisis, where higher and higher doses of chemicals became necessary as insects became resistant to the chemicals.  Rachel Carson’s 1962 book, Silent Spring, brought awareness of the harm that chemicals like DDT had created and prompted the start of the environmental movement culminating in the formation of the EPA in 1970.

The term Integrated Pest Management was first used in agriculture beginning in the 1970’s in response to growing knowledge about the negative side-effects of pesticide overuse.  The approach emphasized the integration of pest biology and cultural practices in controlling insect pests in crops.

The first literature on IPM in non-agricultural settings came in the early 1980’s with publications by H. and W. Olkowski (founders of the Bio-Integral Resource Center – BIRC) including a training manual written for the National Park Service.  The term was used soon after in museums as a replacement for the term “pest control”.   New ways of dealing with pests were promoted partly by the withdrawal of many common chemicals from use, as well as general trends in health and safety.  In cultural institutions the term IPM also indicated the need to expand the pool of alternative control methods by “integrating” pest management into collection care practices.

Although “IPM” represents a specific strategy, it is often used more loosely to describe modern trends that promote any measures other than the use of pesticides and toxic fumigant gases.

Pesticides have been used for centuries. Although IPM aims to reduce the use of chemicals in treating infestations. Understanding the history of pesticide and chemical use is critical to health and safety of collections, staff, and visitors. The Pesticide Database created by Marilen Pool presents information about over 100 pesticide chemicals documented in use with collections throughout history. Explore the database or consult resources on the issues caused by residual pestices on collections.

There are a number of organizations that offer IPM traning classes aimed at the cultural heritage community. A selection are listed here. To have your organization added to the list please use the contact us form.

• Canadian Conservation Institute: 
  Offers both general as well as highly advanced training that covers a wide range of disciplines. Workshops are usually two days in length and are designed to be as interactive as possible. Workshops are held throughout Canada and available in both official languages.
• Centre for Sustainable Heritage:
  Seminars, short courses, and lectures on preservation located in London, England.
• Chicora Foundation Inc: 
  Located in Columbia, South Carolina, USA, the Chicora Foundation offers a range of professional workshops and seminars throughout the Southeastern US. They also offer on-site preservation assessments and consultations on these issues, as well as staff training workshops.
• Connecting to Collections Care Online Community:
  A resource of the Foundation of the American Institute for Conservation, the site produces webinars taught by preservation professionals and other experts on collection care topics.  Past webinars on IPM related topics can be accessed through the site’s archives or using the site search. The site also has an online community for questions as well as  along with a curated selection of online resources.
• Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts:
  Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, the CCAHA offers workshops, training sessions and lectures on various preservation related topics including IPM.
• International Preservation Study Center:
  Formerly known as the Campbell Center For Historic Preservation Studies, located in Mount Carroll, Illinois, USA, the Center offers an IPM course as part of their series of classes on collections management.
• MuseumStudy:
  Has an extensive listing of on-line courses on collections care including one on IPM.
• The Northern States Conservation Center:
  Has an extensive listing of on-line courses on collections care including one on IPM.

Numerous IPM resources were used in creating this site. A list of IPM related references has been compiled based on recommendations from members of the MuseumPests Working Group.  Bibliographies on specific topics are available on other sections of this site but all references listed here. Scroll through the Bibliography.

The organizations or institutions below offer IPM training classes aimed at the collections community.

• Canadian Conservation Institute: http://www.cci-icc.gc.ca/
  Offers both general as well as highly advanced training that covers a wide range of disciplines. Workshops are usually two days in length and are designed to be as interactive as possible. Workshops are held throughout Canada and available in both official languages.
• Centre for Sustainable Heritage: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/sustainableheritage/
  Seminars, short courses, and lectures on preservation located in London, England.
• Chicora Foundation Inc.: http://chicora.org
  Located in Columbia, South Carolina, USA, the Chicora Foundation offers a range of professional workshops and seminars throughout the Southeastern US. They also offer on-site preservation assessments and consultations on these issues, as well as staff training workshops.
• Connecting to Collections Care Online Community: http://www.connectingtocollections.org
  A resource of the Foundation of the American Institute for Conservation, the site produces webinars taught by preservation professionals and other experts on collection care topics.  Past webinars on IPM related topics can be accessed through the site’s archives or using the site search. The site also has an online community for questions as well as  along with a curated selection of online resources.
• Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts: http://www.ccaha.org/
  Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, the CCAHA offers workshops, training sessions and lectures on various preservation related topics including IPM.
• International Preservation Study Center https://www.preservationcenter.org/
  Formerly known as the Campbell Center For Historic Preservation Studies, located in Mount Carroll, Illinois, USA, the Center offers an IPM course as part of their series of classes on collections management.
• MuseumStudy http://www.museumstudy.com/
  Has an extensive listing of on-line courses on collections care including one on IPM.
• The Northern States Conservation Center: www.collectioncare.org
  Has an extensive listing of on-line courses on collections care including one on IPM.