Books are undoubtedly among the most popular achievements of human civilization, a fact that e-books and the digitalization of the world’s digitizationhave been able to do little about. According to study 80% of Austrians buy an average of 6-7 books a year. Extrapolated, that’s about 45 million pieces that find a new home on domestic bookshelves every year. Quite a lot. However, in order to be able to enjoy one’s printed works for decades to come, there are a number of important things to consider when storage of books there are five key points to keep in mind.
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Proper indoor climate
Books, as everyone knows, are made of paper. And that paper with moisture is also well known that paper does not harmonize very well with moisture. Accordingly, a humidity of 60% should not be exceeded if you want to prevent mold from growing or the book pages from getting mildew stains. The temperature should be kept constant in the range of 16-20 degrees Celsius. If the temperature fluctuates, condensation can form and you are again faced with the moisture problem.
Avoid sunlight
Another enemy of the paper, in addition to moisture, is UV radiation. If paper is exposed to direct sunlight for a long time, it risks yellowing and becoming brittle. The book pages then threaten to tear easily, which can make reading the book an impossibility.
Prevent pests
Also on the list of book arch enemies are small insect animals such as moths or paper fish which feel in a crowded bookshelf like jumbo carpenters in an all-you-can-eat restaurant. The most effective weapon against these book-eaters are lavender, ginkgo leaves or cedar wood, as these give off a scent that is a deterrent to the critters. Thus, an entire bookcase made of cedar would be an ideal place for storage.
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– The right room climate, no direct sunlight, pest prevention with fragrances and an upright position on the shelf are crucial for the long life of books in storage. –
Correct position on the bookshelf
If the books are placed on a shelf, it is important to ensure that they stand straight and not at an angle. After a longer period of time, the spine of the book would warp, which on the one hand is unattractive and on the other hand can lead to damage to the book, especially in the case of bound books. Therefore, fill the row of shelves so that the books are not squeezed together and can not tip. If there are too few books, bookends are a proven aid.
Be careful when storing in boxes
If the bookshelves are full at some point, offer themselves Boxes like moving boxes are a good alternative. Here, order is the top priority, because if the books lie wildly on top of each other, wrinkles and pressure marks can form, which you most likely can not get rid of again. It is best to layer in size from the bottom up and fill in the gaps with newspaper.
If you take these 5 points to heart, there’s not much standing in the way of a long life for your novels, nonfiction, and other tomes. If you are a particularly bibliophile Viennese and your apartment is already overflowing with books, you would also appreciate a storage compartment at STORE ROOM would be the perfect alternative. Sized entirely according to your needs, you can choose from single boxes up to whole bookshelves what your heart desires. We would be happy to give your surplus books a new home.
Your STORE ROOM Team! 🤖
