The Bear's Den Info Files: Books On The Shelf Still Need Lovin'!

So you've placed your newest addition lovingly on the shelf in proud display with the rest of your titles . Great! But! They still need lovin', that old TLC, to let them  - and the world - know that you seriously care for your treasure trove.

Here I've gathered some tips to help extend the shelf life of your library:

First off: the shelves themselves: The best choice is a stained and finished/varnished shelf, most furniture stores and home supply stores have 'em. If you're building your own, you can even buy individual pre-finished shelf planks in varying widths to suit your needs. If you are using plain unfinished wood and you decide to paint your bookshelves, avoid using a latex paint. Books which sit for long on latex tend to stick to it. If you must use a latex, put down a non-acidic shelf paper before replacing the books on the shelves.

Keep the shelves clean, dry,  and dust-free.

Now, I personally adhere to the philosophy that you can never have too many books. You CAN, however, have a shortage of shelf space... So, to make better use of your existing shelf space:

It is certainly acceptable to place paperback books fore-edge down, spines facing upward, and provides a way to maximize shelf space usage:

A paperback's format ('cut' as a block, covers not extending beyond the page edges) lends itself to this, the edges can easily support and distribute the weight. Paperbacks can also be stacked on your shelves in this manner:

The picture above also applies to stacking hardcovers on your shelves. This method helps keep the books flat, maximizes shelf space usage and keeps the bindings visible for easy reading of the titles:

Never store hardcover books on their spine or edge-down, with the spines facing upward. Because the covers extend beyond the page edges, gravity will pull on the pages and cause the spines to sag inward, and damage or, over a long period, ruin the binding:

\/ Don't Do This! \/

^ Don't Do This!^

Books stored upright should be packed securely enough to prevent them leaning at an angle – which can twist or damage the binding - but not crammed together in a way that subjects them to excessive pressure and makes unpacking difficult. Hardcovers stored upright should not have items stacked on top of them. And with that: Never pull a book off the shelf by hooking the top of the spine. This can eventually lead to warping the top of the binding at the spine. If space is tight, push in the books on either side of the one you want, then grasp it by the sides.

Once on the shelf, you should dust your books at least twice annually; judge by the normal levels of dust in your household.. Do each book individually by removing it from the shelf and holding it tightly closed. Brush the dust away from the top surface and edges with a soft brush, like a drafting brush or wide camel's hair brush. Wipe the covers with a soft, dry cloth.