These portuguese libraries are infested with batsand they like it. Hello boys and girls tonight we will be reading about some very unusual guest at the library. These baroque portuguese libraries employ bats for a very. In coimbra, a colony of common pipistrelle bats makes their home behind the bookshelves of the universitys joanina library, emerging at nightfall to consume flies and gnats and other pests before swooping out the library windows and across the hilltop college town in search of water.
Bats act as pest control at two old portuguese libraries. In coimbra, a colony of common pipistrelle bats makes their home behind the bookshelves of the universitys joanina library, emerging at nightfall to consume flies and gnats and other pests. These portuguese libraries are infested with batsand they. Two libraries in portugal employ bats to keep the bugs in check by eating them. Coimbra, portugalduring the day, as visitors file through the university of coimbras 300yearold joanina library, the creatures remain hidden behind the grand, gilded bookcases. Finally, library staff tell us a colony of bats live inside the walls of the library. Two antique portuguese libraries use live bats as insect repellant. Youve got to keep your books safe from nibbling mice, burrowing. During the night, the bats consume the insects that appear, eliminating the pest and assisting the maintenance of the stacks. Texan brann wouldve fit nicely into the alaska scene. At night, a colony of bats eats insects that might otherwise harm the books and rare furniture at the university of coimbras johannine library. Leather sheets are used to cover the furniture from batty poop. Written by nicola davies illustrated by sarah foxdavies read aloud by mrs. The bats help preserve old books but they drive librarians, well.
A library built in the 18th century where the books are protected by a colony of bats, during the night they consume the insects that appear. Coimbra, portugalduring the day, as visitors file through the university of coimbras 300yearold joanina library, the creatures remain. He has written and illustrated more than twenty books for children. Biblioteca joanina, the library at the university of coimbra. For more information and to experience an interactive dvd of the library, visit the biblioteca joanina website. Biblioteca joanina coimbra 2020 all you need to know. At biblioteca joanina and the mafra palace library, both, curiously, located in portugal, and both built in the 18th century, small bats, about an inch long, act as guards against bookeating insects. The library is now considered a priceless national treasure of portugal. Til the university library of coimbra pt has a colony of. Visit the joanina library at the university of coimbra in portugal at night and you might think the building has a bat problem. The bats help preserve old books but they drive librarians, well, batty via. Bats preserve books at johannine library features american. At the university of coimbra in central portugal, there are bats in the.
Although the libraries at the university of coimbra and the palace of mafra. The bats come out at night to feast on any potential book destroying insects. The bats help preserve old books but they drive librarians. In the morning the library is cleaned of bat guano. Til the university library of coimbra pt has a colony of bats living there to protect their books from insects.
The secondfloor stacks in the library of the old university of coimbra. Biblioteca joanina is a baroque library situated in the heights of the historic centre of the university of coimbra, by the university. Youve got to keep your books safe from nibbling mice, burrowing bookworms, and coverchomping moths. The university of coimbras grand old biblioteca joanina houses both books and bats. These portuguese libraries are home to multiple colonies of bugeating bats. A 300yearold librarys resident bats eat the bugs that devour glue and paper, but theyre attracting more interest than the literature. But you might be surprised to learn that at some libraries, pest control is a matter of fighting fire with fire. Mafra palace library mafra, portugal atlas obscura. Brian lies is the caldecott honorwinning authorillustrator of new york times bestsellers bats at the beach, bats at the library, bats at the ballgame, and bats in the band. Why these libraries welcome the bat colonies that live. In coimbra, a colony of common pipistrelle bats makes their home behind the bookshelves of the universitys joanina library, emerging at. Book eating pests would pose a great threat to these old tomes were it not for the inchlong bats who patrol the library at night. Bats preserve books at johannine library features american airlines magazines. How bats protect rare books at this portuguese library mental.
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