How to Care for Old Books

I first learned about Preservation Week, an American Library Association program, when I was in graduate school to get my Master of Library and Information Science. This year, Preservation Week celebrates its 10th anniversary and runs from April 26 to May 2.

It got me thinking - many of us care for family bibles and other old, possibly heirloom books. What is the best way to care for them? Fortunately, properly caring for old books doesn’t need to be hard or expensive. 

6 Tips on Caring for Old Books

 1)  Have clean hands and a clean surface

Wash your hands with soap and water and thoroughly dry hands before handling any old book. Also, make sure that the surface that you put the book on is also clean.

2)  Pull books from shelves the right way

Remove books from shelves by grasping the center of the book on both sides and pulling out, not pulling down from the top of the spine.

3)  Support the book

Use book cradles or other items to support the book covers so it doesn't lie flat and damage the spine. Some affordable options are from Gaylord and University Products. Or make your own!

4)  Keep food, drinks, and pens away

Be sure to keep away anything that might spill or mark the book. Keep away all food and drinks, and only use pencils near old books.

5)  Store properly

Store old books in an archival box away from heat, light, and humidity. No attics or basements! Archival boxes are reasonably priced (~$20) and will protect your family bible. Some good options are this family bible preservation kit, this rare book storage box or this clamshell box.

 Also, store taller books flat to avoid warping the pages. If you keep them upright on the shelves, make sure they are not leaning to the side and standing straight up. And don’t forget to keep them dusted.

6)  Be gentle on the pages

Don’t fold pages to mark them or use paperclips. Avoid using any acidic paper as bookmarks (like Post-it Notes). Most of the paper you have around the house is acidic, so you can order acid-free paper if you need a bookmark.  

Do you have any other tips for caring for old books? Please share!