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https://laughingsquid.com/library-uses-bats-to-protect-books-from-insects/>
"The famous Joanina Library at the University of Coimbra in Portugal employs
bats to provide a natural pest repellent service to protect their priceless
books and manuscripts from insect damage. The library, which is a gorgeous
example of Baroque architecture, was built in 1717 and houses over 200,000
tomes.
For centuries, The Joanina Library has allowed a colony of bats to live
within its historic Baroque halls. At night, the bats feed on insects that
could damage the collection of over 200,000 books, serving as a natural form
of pest control.
The staff also takes protection against the inevitable appearance of bat guano.
To protect the ornate furnishings from bat droppings, librarians cover
tables with leather sheets each evening and clean the floors every morning.
This centuries-old practice has helped maintain the library’s rare
manuscripts in remarkable condition."
Via Esther Schindler.
Share and enjoy,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
