How to store books
December 18, 2008 storing books No CommentsIf you are a book fan and want to keep your book collection in tip top condition here are some rules that you should follow;
You shouldn’t keep books in damp or dry conditions as insufficient moisture can causes a book’s natural materials to become dry and brittle meaning the pages will weaken and be easily torn. With old books, bindings tend to deteriorate and crumble when the conditions are a bit too dry. Paper in books will also deteriorate quickly in extreme conditions of heat or moisture. Keeping them in a damp environment will encourage the paper to cockle and this will opens books up to attack especially from mould.
It is important that books are kept in stable conditions, this is as important as the level of temperature and humidity. A temperature of between 16ºC and 18ºC, and a relative humidity of around 50-60% are best recommended. So the next time you find yourself shivering and cold in the library you should remember that these conditions are for the good of the books.
Bright light will fade inks and dyes and will generally accelerate the decomposition of printing materials. Ultraviolet (UV) light is the source of this damage. Books should be stored away from windows and bright lights