How to Keep Books Well Preserved

Store and handle books correctly to preserve them for future generations.

Whether you're an avid collector of rare books, a book lover with a small collection of favorite tomes or even a professional librarian, it is vital to preserve books if you wish to enjoy them in the future. Books stored improperly age quickly and lose their value, especially if the book is a collector's item. Keep your book collection in tip-top shape with continuous upkeep and correct handling of the books.

Things You'll Need

• Humidity gauge
• Humidifier
• Dehumidifier
• Incandescent lighting
• Curtains
• Paint brush
• Dry cloth

Instructions

Storing Books

1. Shelve books that are similar in size together on a shelf in an upright position to avoid larger books bending or warping over the smaller books. Do not shelve books together too tightly, as this can cause fiction between the books when removing them from the shelves and result in damaged bindings or covers.

2. Store books in a room that falls between 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit at 35 percent relative humidity. Check the humidity of the room with a humidity gauge and use a humidifier or dehumidifier to adjust the humidity.

3. Store books away from direct sunlight or fluorescent lighting. Use incandescent lighting in the room and place thick curtains over windows to block sunlight. Only allow light exposure to books when they are in use.

Handling Books

1. Dust the book collection on a yearly basis with a soft paint brush or dry cloth to avoid dust or dirt damage. Avoid using any cleaners or dust sprays on the books.

2. Wash and dry hands before handling the books to avoid transferring grease, grime or other materials to the pages of the book.

3. Remove books from the shelf or storage box by the middle of the spine to avoid tearing the cover.

4. Support the cover of the book when reading and do not attempt to open the book too wide or press it flat down. This will break the spine and result in loose pages.

Tips & Warnings

• Store books in a light-tight container to avoid any light exposure if desired.

• Place cloves on the book shelf or inside the light-tight box to prevent mildew.

• Do not allow the temperature and humidity to fluctuate in the storage room as this can cause rapid deterioration of the book. Keep the room at a constant temperature and humidity at all times.

• Do not store books in areas where pets or pests can come in contact with the materials, such as an attic, basement or family room.

• Do not mark book pages with paper clips as the metal will rust over time and bend or tear pages.

• Do not mark pages with pens or markers to avoid the product bleeding through the paper and damaging other pages.

• Do not apply oil to a book's cover as this can damage the cover instead of protecting it.

References

• Library of Congress: Care, Handling and Storage of Books
• Northwest Document Conservation Center: Temperature, Relative Humidity, Light, and Air Quality: Basic Guidelines for Preservation
• Library of Congress: Preserving Works on Paper: Manuscripts, Drawings, Prints, Posters, Maps, Documents