ACKNOWLEDGMENTS:
APOYOnline is very grateful to the team of volunteer translators who collaborated on this project, listed in alphabetical order: Portuguese team: Beatriz Haspo (coordinator & editor); André Maragno; Cristina Lara Corrêa; Márcia Rizzo; Mariana von Hartenthal; Sandra Baruki; Teresa Lança. Spanish team: Amparo Rueda (coordinator & editor); David Cohen Daza; Estibaliz Guzmán; José Buvis; Ramón Sanchéz Chapellín; Vera de la Cruz Baltazar; Yerko Quitral
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and OCLC are working in partnership with Battelle to create and distribute scientific information generated to reduce the risk of transmitting COVID-19 to employees and visitors who are involved in the delivery and use of museum, library and archive services. This REopening Archives, Libraries, and Museums (REALM) project is studying how long the SARS CoV-2 virus (the virus that causes COVID-19) survives on common materials and methods to mitigate exposure.
Information from the REALM project test results should not be interpreted as recommendations or guidelines. These results contribute to the evolution of the scientific understanding of SARS-CoV-2, which still includes uncertainties about the amount of virus released by a person infected by coughing, sneezing, speech, breathing, etc.; virus load needed to infect someone; and the likelihood of a person becoming infected indirectly through contact with contaminated objects and surfaces (“fomites”).
The project is sponsored by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to conduct scientific research related to SARS-CoV-2 and develop information, communications, and materials for libraries, archives and museums that plan to resume activities with the public. These institutions have unique operations, tactile surfaces and a high volume of employees and users. Through a collaborative relationship, OCLC and Battelle will combine their knowledge and expertise to better support libraries and museums in their efforts to reduce the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), the disease caused by SARS- CoV-2.
Following are the links to the results of the tests carried out and the project publications. For translated versions into Portuguese and Spanish done by APOYOnline, please select the language:
- Test 1: Natural attenuation as a decontamination approach for SARS-CoV-2 on five library materials
- Test 2: Natural attenuation as a decontamination approach for SARS-CoV-2 on five paper-based library and archives materials
- Test 3: Natural attenuation as a decontamination approach for SARS-CoV-2 on five plastic-based materials
- Test 4: Natural attenuation as a decontamination approach for SARSCoV-2 on stacked library materials and expanded polyethylene foam
- Test 5: Natural attenuation as a decontamination approach for SARS-CoV-2 on textile materials
- Test 6: Natural attenuation as a decontamination approach for SARS-CoV-2 on building materials
- Test 7 and 8: Natural attenuation as a decontamination approach for SARS-CoV-2 on materials at various temperatures
- REALM Systematic Literature Review – Phase 1
- REALM Systematic Literature Review – Phase 2
