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Abstract: The aims of this paper were to study the biofouling and biodeterioration of photos and maps stored at Historical Archive of the Museum of La Plata (HAMP), Argentine, and two repositories of the National Archive of Cuba Republic (NARC) and to carry out the physiological characterization of the isolated fungi and bacteria. The role of the environmental microbiota in the biofouling formation was also studied. Microbial assemblages in the air were sampled by sedimentation technique while those on documents were sampled by swabbering. Biofilm formation and biofouling were monitored by scanning electron microscope (SEM). Large microbial assemblages were found at NARC archives with the prevalence of genera Aspergillus, Cladosporium and Penicillium, whereas at HAMP these values were lower, Penicillium was the only fungal genus detected. Most of the fungi degraded cellulose and produced pigments and acids, and all of the isolated bacteria had proteolytic and/or cellulolytic activity. In all cases, a higher concentration of viable bacteria than of fungi was isolated from documents. These results correlated with bacterial values detected in air at NARC repositories. However, this correlation cannot be observed at HAMP where Aspergillus, Penicillium and Talaromyces helicus (teleomorph of Penicillium) were isolated. It is the first time that the last genus is reported in documents. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper was first presented at a session of the IFLA World Library and Information Congress, Buenos Aires, August 2004. The session, entitled 'Library research in Argentina: new approaches' was organized by IFLA's Education and Research Division and hosted by the Institute of Library Research, Faculty of Arts, University of Buenos Aires. The past development of the subject of the 'history of the book and libraries in Argentina' is divided into four periods. It is argued that, having previously followed a descriptive path, the subject is now influenced by the emergence of cultural history and consequently pays more attention than in the past to broader cultural contexts. As a result, it is now legitimate to refer to a 'new' history of books and libraries in Argentina. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article summarizes observations on the "archive question" as it manifests itself in Argentina at the present moment. Based on a presentation delivered in Buenos Aires, it opens with a general appraisal of the multiple dynamics (political, disciplinary, technological) converging on this issue. Then, it focuses on a particular dimension of this process--namely, the impact of the digital archive on the reconstruction of the Argentine past. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]