Caring for Your Books
Most people are uncomfortable in a cold, dark, damp basement or a hot, dry attic, and books are made of various materials that are all sensitive to heat and humidity. Consider the following storage tips for the preservation of your personal book collection.
Keep book shelves on interior walls
For example, to keep bookcases from being damaged by the elements, fasten them to the wall.
Do not store books in an area that you know may flood or have leaks
Regular cleaning and regular cleaning of books can extend the life of your collection. Explore the resources below for more tips on storage environment and collection care.
What temperature should books be stored at?
Temperature and Humidity Ideal temperatures are 68-72 degrees Fahrenheit and 40-50% relative humidity. Keep an eye on temperature and humidity levels because extreme changes in temperature and relative humidity can be particularly damaging to books.
What is the reasonable temperature for book storage and human comfort?
Authorities disagree about the ideal temperature and relative humidity for library and archival materials, but a stable temperature of no more than 70u00b0F and a stable relative humidity of 30% to 50% are frequently recommended.
What temperature is bad for books?
Books should be kept away from radiators and in a room that is between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit (16 and 21 degrees Celsius), with air conditioners and fans as needed to keep the temperature down.
What is the recommended temperature for storing paper based records?
Important Document Storage Considerations For paper records, ideal temperatures range from 65 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit, with relative humidity between 40 and 55 percent. Air quality is also a factor to consider when storing documents.
Is Cold temperature bad for books?
Keep Books Out of Extremes of Temperature The rule of thumb is to keep books where you’d be comfortable, which means garages, storage sheds, attics, and basements are usually bad places to keep books because both heat and cold can damage them.
Is Cold good for books?
Most people would be uncomfortable in a cold, dark, damp basement or a hot, dry attic, and both of these areas would be poor storage environments for books.
Is 53 humidity considered high?
According to the EPA, the ideal range of relative humidity for a home is between 30% and 50%. Humidity above 50% is usually considered too high, while humidity below 30% is usually considered too low.
Does temperature affect paper?
Extreme temperatures will not harm paper, but they can cause problems during printing. To avoid problems during printing, acclimate paper to the proper temperature in a paper handling or storage area before using it.
How do you control humidity?
What Can I Do to Lower My Humidity Levels?
- Actively Use Your Exhaust/Ventilation Fans.
- Take Cooler Showers.
- Fix Any Leaking Pipes.
- Keep Your Gutters Clean.
- Get a Dehumidifier.
- Move Your House Plants.
How do you keep bugs out of books?
You can sprinkle pepper or insect powder near your books, but DO NOT SPRINKLE ANYTHING ON THE BOOKS. You place it near the books, and the smell deters pests from eating your old books, just like cotton balls.
How do you store reading books?
6 Suggestions for Long-Term Book Storage
- Carefully wrap each book.
- Use a Storage Container.
- Store Your Books Vertically.
- Use a Climate Controlled Storage Unit for Long-Term Storage.
Can termites eat books?
Termites are the most destructive type of book-eating pest, eating almost every part of a book, including paper, cloth, and cardboard, as well as causing damage to shelves, and can render entire collections unusable before the infestation is even noticed.
How long can paper documents last?
Alkaline paper has a life expectancy of over 1,000 years for the best grades and 500 years for average grades when sizing additives are mixed into the pulp and/or applied to the surface of the paper.
Is humidity bad for records?
If you’re storing your vinyl records, a climate-controlled unit will help ensure that you’ll be able to spin them for years.
What is the best relative humidity and temperature for metal objects?
In general, a museum environment should have a relative humidity (RH) of 40% to 60-65%.