ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Mass deacidification

Have you ever seen an old book that had yellow pages or was crumbling and falling apart? That's because over time, the paper in the book can become acidic and break down. This is where mass deacidification comes in.

Mass deacidification is a process of removing or neutralizing acid from a large number of books, documents or works on paper at once. It’s like a special treatment for old books to prolong their life and preserve their content.

Here's how it works:

1. First, the books are placed in a controlled environment.

2. Then, gases or sprays are applied to the books to remove the acid from the paper.

3. The books are carefully monitored and checked to make sure the process is working correctly.

4. Finally, the books are returned to a safe storage area, where they can be protected from further damage.

By removing the acid from the paper, mass deacidification can help prevent the books from yellowing, crumbling, and becoming brittle. This is important because it helps to preserve the information contained in the book for future generations.