Last week, a few readers were upset when we wrote about repurposing old books as stationery. While we'd rather see a book creatively reused than thrown in a landfill, many of our books are our most precious possessions and we would not want them to be destroyed. Here are some tips to help your books last longer.
1. The spine of a new hardcover book can be stiff and might crack if it is forced open. To condition the spine, remove the dust cover and stand the book vertically on a hard surface with the spine down (image 2). Holding the pages upright, let the covers fall open (image 3). Then release the pages in 1/4-inch batches on alternating sides, pressing the pages gently as they fall (image 4). Continue until you get to the center of the book. Never force a book to open — if it doesn't open all the way, cradle the spine at an angle.
2. Always store books upright or flat, keeping similarly sized books together. Never lean them at an angle or vertically on their spine or pages. Don't pack books too tightly on the shelves or they may crack or become scratched if they are pulled out too roughly. To properly remove a book from the shelf, push in the two books next to it and grasp the book by either edge of the spine. Don't pull it from the top of the spine.
3. Don't store books too close to a heater, in direct sunlight or in damp places where they could become mildewed. If your books do mildew, try rubbing the mildew with a very dry cloth and leaving the book open in the sunlight for about 45 minutes (but not for too long or the book may start to fade). If the book is very valuable, take it to a specialist in book conservation before trying to clean it yourself.
4. When you dust your books, make sure to dust from the spine outward so that the dirt doesn't settle in the pocket behind the spine.
5. Handle books with clean, dry hands. Oils, perspiration, dirt and food residue can cause a lot of damage.
We know many of our readers are book lovers so we want to hear your tips for keeping your books in good condition in the comments below.
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(Images: Sarah Rainwater)
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Oh, bless. I try to inform folks about this when appropriate, so it's quite lovely to see it coming from other sources. A thousand thank yous and long live your books.
Great tips, also if you have some you don't use anymore and can part with, you could make a hollow book to store fun treasures. Check it out: http://www.queenofdiy.com/crafts/secret-hollow-book.html
Sarah, you are a brave, brave woman.
(Sarah Sarniak, not Sarah Rainwater!)
My dad taught me to "warm up" textbook spines...everyone always thought I was crazy, but mine never cracked! When you press the pages open (in the 1/4" segments), you can rub the side of your hand along the seam of the pages and build up some heat. It will warm up the glue and give it a bit more flex.
You can also read a good guide here:
http://www.conservation-us.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Page.ViewPage&PageID=626
Don't let books mildew, period. The various suggested fixes do NOT work and the mildew can spread to other books. (Putting the book in a closed container with kitty litter does not work. Nothing works. I'm a librarian in charge of book repairs at our library, and I promise, we have tried everything.)
(And professional conservation of one NON mildewed antique book we once had appraised -- a history of our town from 1879 -- would have cost $3000. Just so you know!)
Keep the books out of wet enviroments and sunlight and you will be fine.
I've a friend who's crazy about books. He would buy two books of the same title, one hardbound and another in paperback. He'd stash the hardbound straight into the bookshelf and only read the paperback.
Me, I looove books. But I don't have as much money as my crazy book-lover friend. I try to take care of my books properly but I'm a spinecracker and I don't mind doggie-ears. I think books love to be opened and be read and re-read over and over again. I'm pretty sure someone here would think I'm a monster. But I love books for what is in them and not for their looks.
During my years as a student worker at several libraries, I was taught not to use Post-Its in books that I care about, or at the very least, not to leave them in for long. They do leave a bit of gluey residue which can attract extra dirt, dust, and oils, which can degrade the paper.
Because we live in a humid area I've been using 2 dehumidifiers in our home for the past 23-24 years, which has made an enormous difference in maintaining all my books as well as other possessions like clothes, shoes, paintings and the house itself mildew free.
Dehumidifier Reviews has some good tips and advice about these must have machines for your home especially if you live in humid parts of the country
So good to see an article about books. I too am a book lover and would never abuse one. Thanks for the info. Also,its nice to know there are still people who read books,not just use them for "decoration"! To me that is so asinine!