Packing and storing books safely is primarily a matter of good housekeeping and handling. The kinds of damage commonly suffered by books in storage – due to mould, insects and poor packing – are largely preventable. These guidelines outline an effective preventative approach to the problems of book storage. Yes, there may be some additional costs involved but any savvy shopper can fit a budget and adjust their preparations to suit. And aren't your treasured books worth the extra effort?
Preparing books for packing
It is important that books are clean and dry before they are packed. Books that feel damp or have a musty odour should be aired and dried in a well ventilated room. Surface dirt and dust should be removed with a soft brush, outdoors if possible, using a disposable face mask. Seriously mouldy books should be treated by a conservator, as mould can cause serious damage to books, and there are health risks associated with inhaling mould spores.
Insects can do considerable damage to paper-based material in storage, and books should be carefully checked for evidence of infestation. Unhatched insect eggs resemble black poppy seeds and are often hidden in the gutters between the pages. Remove these with a soft brush and discard them before packing the books.
I will further address these and other maintenance issues in another post.
Leather-bound books packed side-by-side can stick together if subjected to sufficient moisture. As a precaution, they should be wrapped in a good-quality archival or 100 per cent rag paper, or at least separated by a sheet of same.
Leather bindings that are degraded and powdery will stain other items and should also be wrapped in archival paper.
Insects can do considerable damage to paper-based material in storage, and books should be carefully checked for evidence of infestation. Unhatched insect eggs resemble black poppy seeds and are often hidden in the gutters between the pages. Remove these with a soft brush and discard them before packing the books.
I will further address these and other maintenance issues in another post.
Leather-bound books packed side-by-side can stick together if subjected to sufficient moisture. As a precaution, they should be wrapped in a good-quality archival or 100 per cent rag paper, or at least separated by a sheet of same.
Leather bindings that are degraded and powdery will stain other items and should also be wrapped in archival paper.
Try not to use ordinary cardboard boxes to store books … they are highly acidic, and the acid will migrate from the box to your books, discolouring, ageing, and degrading the pages. Store them in acid-neutral boxes, available from conservation suppliers. As an alternative, line the inside of your cardboard box with a decent heavy plastic. I use the clear plastic recycling bags, large size, and when the box is loaded I fold/close up the top before putting the lid on. Of course, my 'specials' (signed editions etc) I already keep individually in poly bags, so they are adequately protected if I need to place them in an unlined cardboard box.
ONE OF MY SIGNED EDITIONS,
WRAPPED AND READY FOR STORAGE
Reminder: Paper is heavy! Storage boxes should not be too big. It is better to use several smaller boxes rather than one large unwieldy box which is difficult to move safely, and in which books risk being damaged. Boxes should be closed for storage. I myself use the standard copy paper boxes; to me they are the perfect size - they can be filled up without becoming too heavy. Their size allows 4 rows of paperbacks, standing up, about 10 books per row (depending on the thickness of the books, of course) and then on top you can lay 6 more paperbacks, flat. The same size copy paper boxes can hold about 20 or so hardcovers.
and, they have a lid. They stack very well.
They can of course be placed in the box as they would stand on the shelf. 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. This can easily also damage the dustjackets. Hardcovers stored upright should not have items stacked on top of them. Don't jam them in too tightly, alternating which side the binding is on. (see below)
Preferably, stack them flat, alternating which side the binding edge is on:
Preferably, stack them flat, alternating which side the binding edge is on:
QUITE ACCEPTABLE
If space in the box permits, offset the binding edge so that it does not receive pressure from the books above it:
THUMBS UP!
Small or medium-sized books can be packed either lying flat or standing upright. Large heavy books should be stored lying flat. Where heavy books are packed flat, one on top of the other, they should be arranged with spines and fore-edges alternating:
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!^
Pack larger, heavier books at the bottom of the box, with smaller, lighter ones on top. Do not over-pack so that books are crushed. Allow space for air to circulate.
Reminder: Paper is heavy! Storage boxes should not be too big. It is better to use several smaller boxes rather than one large unwieldy box which is difficult to move safely, and in which books risk being damaged. Boxes should be closed for storage.
Reminder: Paper is heavy! Storage boxes should not be too big. It is better to use several smaller boxes rather than one large unwieldy box which is difficult to move safely, and in which books risk being damaged. Boxes should be closed for storage.
Controlling The Storage Environment
The storage area must be dry, with a stable environment. Stored material should not be subjected to extremes in temperature and relative humidity. This is why attics, garages, basements and outhouses (Eewwww! Ick!) are unsuitable for book storage.
Avoid attics or basements unless you have extraordinary climate control installed. High temperature and high humidity enable the acidic reactions which contribute to paper deterioration. Do not place boxes directly on the floor. They should be stored on palettes or planks or blocks to aid air circulation and as a precaution in case of flooding. Do not stack them against exterior walls, as moisture can be transferred and absorbed from outside. Any building maintenance issues affecting the storage space should be dealt with quickly and effectively. The key here is to allow some air circulation around all sides of the stacks.
Storing books at lower temperatures can significantly extend their lifespan; one authority states that the lifespan of paper materials is almost doubled at each 10-degree (F) reduction in temperature. A constant storage temperature of 68 degrees (F) is considered ideal, but the constancy is as important as the temperature. Wide fluctuations in temperature can be extremely damaging.
Humidity also must be controlled; humidity below 40% can cause paper to become dry and brittle, whereas more than 60% humidity can soften paper and increase acidic decay. 50% humidity is deemed acceptable by preservationists; again, it is as important to avoid variation as it is to avoid extremes. Humidity levels in an enclosed storage area can be maintained with a small air conditioning unit, a dehumidifier and/or a humidifier.
The most common causes of damage to stored books are mould and insects, due to damp and unmonitored storage conditions. Moisture causes mould spores to germinate and bloom and encourages insect eggs to hatch. If the storage area, containers and the books themselves are dry, there is little likelihood of mould growth. The storage area should also be monitored for the presence of insects. Insecticides and mothballs are not recommended, as they can have harmful effects on human health as well as on stored material. Placing the typical enclosed insect baited traps in a corner away from the stacks should suffice, but please remember to handle them with care.
With all that in mind, I've found that many commercial storage locker facilities offer protected and reasonably environment-controlled lockers that are quite suitable for storing your books and other treasures. The temperature and humidity are kept fairly constant, the floors are clean, and the space you rent is YOURS to modify: if you need to place palettes or planks to raise the boxes off the floor, you can do so. Install metal frame shelves? Certainly.
So, I hope this has not been too dry - or too moist, remember the environment control ;) - and will help you extend your enjoyment of your books for a long happy time.
Thanks for sitting in, feel free to drop some change in the empty honey jar by the door
John "The Bear" Speelman,
Book Collector/Hobbyist
Jack of All Trades, Master of...well, a few...
Quantumvis cursum longum fessumque moratur sol, Sacro tandem carmine vesper adest.
No matter how the sun may linger on its long and weary journey,
at length evening comes, with its sacred song
Listings: http://johnthebear.blujay.com and http://turnedpages.ecrater.com
eBay username "johnthebearsden"
I love your blog! This is a great post on storing books.
ReplyDeleteThank you! And there's more to come on health care for books!
ReplyDeleteWow, a lot of good tips for storing books.
ReplyDelete