One of Hungary’s most historic institutions is racing against time to protect its priceless collection of books from a destructive beetle infestation.
At the 1,000-year-old Pannonhalma Archabbey — a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Hungary’s oldest centers of learning — around 100,000 centuries-old, handbound books are being removed from the library shelves. The goal is to halt the spread of the drugstore beetle, a tiny insect known to feed not only on dried foods but also on the gelatin and starch adhesives used in bookbinding.
The infestation, discovered during routine cleaning, has affected nearly a quarter of the abbey’s 400,000 volumes. Library staff found layers of dust and boreholes in book spines and pages — telltale signs of beetle damage. “We’ve never seen an infestation of this scale,” said Zsófia Edit Hajdu, the project’s lead conservator. “The entire collection must be treated simultaneously.”
The library holds an irreplaceable trove of treasures: Hungary’s first book catalog, a complete 13th-century Bible, 19 codices, and hundreds of pre-printing press manuscripts. While the most fragile items are stored separately and remain safe, any loss is deeply felt. “Even if a book is replaceable, its cultural essence is not,” said library director Ilona Ásványi.
To combat the insects, the books are being placed in sealed, oxygen-free bags filled with nitrogen for six weeks, a method designed to kill the beetles. Each book will then be inspected, cleaned, and, if necessary, restored.
Abbey officials suspect that rising temperatures linked to climate change may have worsened the infestation. “Insects are thriving in warmer climates, and this allows them to reproduce faster,” said Hajdu.
For the monks and librarians at Pannonhalma, preserving the collection is more than a duty — it’s a sacred obligation. “According to the Rule of Saint Benedict, monastery property is to be treated as sacred,” Ásványi said. “We take that responsibility seriously.”
