HTML Basics
Stanford University Libraries & Academic Information Resources

Blockquotes

Let's jump down toward the end of Spore where the author has included a block quote. Now the block quote element is used pretty much as you'd expect, except for two things. HTML has a pretty simplistic notion of what a paragraph and pretty sophisticated notion of what a block quote is.

Even though we would all agree that the text below constitutes a single paragraph, the rules of HTML say that a paragraph can not contain a blockquote (which is dumb). Therefore, even though it makes no sense, we have to treat "To quote Dr. Thomas Parker, of Pest Control Services, Inc.:" as the the end of a paragraph. On the other hand, to it's credit, HTML recognizes that block quotes do, themselves, contain structured text, and the rules require that a blockquote contains some kind of 'container' element, (which is usually p).

So, on the the markup:

  <h2>IV.  Concluding Recommendations</h2>

  <p>Most authorities agree that fumigating collections with
  toxic chemicals is rarely necessary for dealing with mold
  and mildew problems.  Treating individual incoming items may
  occasionally be necessary, but storing collections in
  appropriate environmental conditions should prevent the need
  for fumigation.  To quote Dr. Thomas Parker, of Pest Control
  Services, Inc.:</p>

  <blockquote><p>fumigation will not control mold and
  mildew if the library materials are placed back into the
  same conditions from which they came.  In most instances
  library materials that have been fumigated are then
  stored in areas which do not have an environment
  conducive to mold growth.  The success of the fumigation
  is given as a reason for the control of the mold and
  mildew, when in fact, the new area in which the
  materials are stored is the governing factor as to why
  mold and mildew is now being controlled.</p></blockquote>

  <p>Maintenance of proper environmental conditions will
  prevent mold growth. And if mold does occur, a relatively
  gentle form of cleaning along with improving the environment
  will solve the problem in most situations.  I recommend that
  you try the following before instigating chemical
  treatment.</p>

which is rendered:

Most authorities agree that fumigating collections with toxic chemicals is rarely necessary for dealing with mold and mildew problems. Treating individual incoming items may occasionally be necessary, but storing collections in appropriate environmental conditions should prevent the need for fumigation. To quote Dr. Thomas Parker, of Pest Control Services, Inc.:

fumigation will not control mold and mildew if the library materials are placed back into the same conditions from which they came. In most instances library materials that have been fumigated are then stored in areas which do not have an environment conducive to mold growth. The success of the fumigation is given as a reason for the control of the mold and mildew, when in fact, the new area in which the materials are stored is the governing factor as to why mold and mildew is now being controlled.

Maintenance of proper environmental conditions will prevent mold growth. And if mold does occur, a relatively gentle form of cleaning along with improving the environment will solve the problem in most situations. I recommend that you try the following before instigating chemical treatment.