Tips to Maintaining
Your Book's Health
Keeping your treasured Bibles, cook books, and children's books in good condition is easy. Follow these simple preventative steps to ensure you can enjoy your beloved family books for years to come.
Beware of Basements
Due to the dampness and chill of many basements, mold spots will grow on the covers and pages of your book within a relatively short time. If you must keep your books in the basement, store them in sturdy cardboard boxes and keep them off the floor.
Stand Books Upright
Prevent damaged book spines by standing all books perpendicular on a book shelf. It's important to keep the books a finger's width apart.
Avoid Attics
Books stored in attic spaces are more susceptible to drying out and cracking in the spine and hinge areas. They will also be stiff and brittle when used again. If you must keep your books in the attic, wrap them in a linen-type cloth and store in sturdy cardboard boxes. Be sure to place them away from windows, leaky areas, chimneys, stove pipes, and heating vents.
Use Bookmarks
Although its convenient, do not bend page corners when reading a book. Bent pages can result in the corners breaking off, and the print smudging. If you need to save your spot in a book, use a bookmark.
Do Not Bend Books
When reading a book, be sure to keep the book cover at no more than a 95° angle from each other. Laying flat, the covers should be at no more than a 180° angle to each other. Bending a book will result in cracked and broken spines.
Dust Regularly
Books should be dusted on all surface areas, every three to six months. Dust lightly, pushing away from the spine and page areas using a soft feather duster.
Wrap Books in Cloth
To avoid musty, odorous book covers and boards, do not store your books in air tight plastic wrapping. Wrap your books in cloth or fabric.
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