The 5 wisdoms of book storage
Storing books: how it works
Books are undoubtedly one of the most popular achievements of human civilization, something that even e-books and digitization have been unable to do much about.
According to a study, an average of 80% of Austrians buy 6-7 books a year. Extrapolated, that’s around 45 million books that find a new home on Austrian bookshelves every year. Quite a lot. However, in order to enjoy your printed works for decades to come, there are five key points to bear in mind when storing books.
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Prevent unwanted pests
Also on the list of book arch-enemies are small insects such as moths or paperfish, which feel like jumbo carpenters in an all-you-can-eat restaurant in a cluttered bookshelf. The most effective weapons against these book-eaters are lavender, ginkgo leaves or cedar wood, as these give off an odor that deters them. An entire bookshelf made of cedar would therefore be an ideal storage place.
The right room climate, no direct sunlight, pest prevention with fragrances and an upright position on the shelf are crucial for a long life when storing books.
4. 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.
5. Be careful when storing in boxes
If the bookshelves are full at some point, moving boxes such as the sustainable moving boxes from KIBOX are a good alternative. Order is the top priority here, because if the books are piled on top of each other, creases and pressure marks can form that you will most likely not be able to get rid of. It’s best to arrange them in order of size from bottom to top and fill the gaps with newspaper.
Take these five points to heart when storing books and nothing will stand in the way of a long life for your novels, non-fiction books and other tomes!
If you’re the particularly bibliophile type and your home is already overflowing with books, a storage room at STORE ROOM would also be an ideal alternative for storing books. Tailored to your needs in terms of size, you can store anything your heart desires, from individual boxes to entire bookshelves. We would be delighted to give your surplus books a clean and temperature-controlled home!
