Taking Care of Your Books

 

Deterioration of books with time depends on inherent vices, such as acidic paper and glue, and exposure to damaging elements such as air pollution and UV radiation. There is little that can be done about inherent conditions leading to deterioration. Many books printed in the late 19th Century are crumbling apart because of poor quality paper, and even recent books printed on bad paper, such as the 9-volume Birds of the Western Palearctic (Oxford University Press) are showing signs of serious deterioration. (Before signing a book contract, be sure that it specifies that archival quality materials will be used.)

Book owners can take a number of steps to prevent unnecessary deterioration:

Upon purchasing a book, remove any gummed price tags or other labels. If not removed, glue will eventually spread into the cover or page, leaving a permanent yellow spot. Any excess glue on glossy dust jackets can be removed with a bit of Goo Gone.

Repair any dust jacket tears that cannot be held together without tape inside a dust jacket protector with PH neutral Scotch Book Repair Tape or similar. Never use any tape other than acid-free book tape on books!

Next, cover the dust jacket with a Brodart Archival-Quality book jacket cover or similar. If you have a vast library of books to cover, it probably would be more economical to purchase the covers in rolls. I have always bought them in sheets and have discovered that it is best to purchase the "long" sizes. They may be trimmed with a paper cutter, but it is best to leave them long enough to extend beyond the dust jacket by at least ¼" at both ends. The book jacket cover should be taped to itself above the fold along the bottom with three small pieces of book tape.

Store books out of direct sunlight, as UV will cause the spines and dust jackets to fade. Large, heavy books should be stored flat, although that isn't always possible. Dust your books often.

 

How to Store Books Properly

 

Proper storage of your books can mean the difference between a valuable collection of fine copies and a disappointing batch of "reading copy" books, marked by mildew, foxing and broken spines.

Books should be stored at a moderate temperature (60-70 degrees Fahrenheit) and at 50% humidity.
Whenever possible, keep books on a sturdy bookshelf.
Shelve books upright.
Never shelve books too tightly. One risks damaging the book when replacing it or removing it from the shelf.
Store books toward the front of bookshelves. This promotes proper air circulation and prevents musty odors from forming.
Avoid storing books near a heater, or in direct sunlight, as books may be damaged by extreme temperatures and harsh lighting.
Stick a few whole cloves in the corners of bookshelves to prevent mildew.
Dust your books at least once a year by removing each volume from the shelf and, while the volume is tightly closed, brushing away dust with a soft, wide paint brush.
For maximum protection, consider purchasing a glass enclosed bookcase.

 

How to Remove Odors from Books

 

A common enemy of the book collector is putrid odors in old books. Lucky for us, paperbags, a newspaper and other easy-to-find household items can remove many offensive smells

Assemble your materials. You'll need a paperbag and some old newspapers.
Crumple the newspapers and put them into the bag. Be sure to pack loosely.
Insert the book and allow to sit overnight. The newspaper will absorb the musty odor.
If the newspaper trick doesn't work, try pouring a few inches of cat litter or baking soda or charcoal into a plastic container with a tight fitting lid.
In a smaller container place the offending book. Do not put a lid on this container.
Place the smaller container into the larger container.
Put a lid on the larrger container.
Books may be left in the container for up to one month.

Tips:

 

To prevent musty odors, store your books toward the front of your bookshelves. This allows the air to circulate properly.