LC's deacidification process leased to chemical giant; costs to be $6-10/book.

Ed. note: For some 15 years, the Library of Congress has explored the use of diethl zinc (DEZ) vapors to prevent the acid deterioration of its library materials. As American Libraries has noted in previous stories, the process has been controversial; its development has involved LC in political turmoil and sometimes a defensive stance in relation to other methods of mass deacidification.

The recent announcement that Akzo Chemicals has obtain& an exlusive license to implement a commercial DEZ deacidification service marks the close of LC's developmental phase-and perhaps the end of some of its headaches as DEZ& advocate. But the licensing also opens certain new issues and questions, and to address them, AL asked conservation expert George Cunha to report on the Akzo press conference he attended and its implications. Cunha's latest major update on …