This work concerns with the biological questions that libraries and archives faced in the initial phase of the SARS-Cov-2 pandemic. The handling and consultation of cultural objects, the persistence of the virus on surfaces, and the disinfection of books and documents were among the most important trouble to address in the response to the emergency. The steps that led to the development of guidelines for operators in the sector and the chemical products and disinfection treatments proposed in that period are also defined.