Tips for Storing Books Long-Term | Self Storage Plus (2024)

FAQs

How do you pack books for long term storage? ›

When placing your books into the storage container, store them vertical with the paper edges facing upward. This method helps to protect the shape of the books by allowing the books to support each other. Be cautious to never jam too many books into one box, as it can cause the spines of the books to warp.

Plastic containers are an excellent choice for long-term book storage, as they defend against moisture and other damage. While boxes are fine for most short-term moves, they become susceptible to humidity, moisture, and pests over time.

Room temperature, around 70 degrees (though even cooler is better), and a moderate stable relative humidity (around 40-50%) is best. Too much heat or moisture can speed up deterioration or encourage mold growth. Try not to store your books in attics, which can become too hot, or basem*nts, which can become too moist.

Yes, airtight/watertight bins can be used for book storage. It's still important to pack them with the same care and consideration as you would any other storage medium, and make sure there's no moisture in the bin before packing. That said, avoid plastic wrap!

Storage — Store books away from sources of heat and moisture. Avoid attics and garages, where temperatures can get high and where there can be problems with water or high humidity. These conditions cause paper to become brittle (think of old newspaper clippings). Moisture can also attract insects.

So, compared with HDD, SSD is more suitable for long-term storage. SSD is more durable than HDD and has better performance.

Don't keep books in plastic bags.

They need to breathe, and plastic may trap moisture, encouraging mold, warping, and pests. The plastic may also react with the book. If you really want to store a book in a bag, there are better options – try a paper bag or wrap the book in paper, tissue, or plain cloth.

Store them on a flat surface, but not on the floor. Ideally, stand the books upright in the storage box. Always pack stacks of books with fore edges facing the sides of the box so that if the load shifts, the “spines against spines” configuration guards against damage. Do not lay books flat on top of the upright ones.

Is it better to store books horizontally or vertically? ›

Since stacking books horizontally can place undue pressure on book spines, most books should be stored in the upright position, ideally shelved neatly in a metal bookcase supported against similarly sized books with bookends at either side.

Vintage editions are especially susceptible to minor fluctuations in temperature and humidity. To deter from disintegration or flaws in the paper or binding, keep temperatures between 65–70 degrees Fahrenheit, with humidity levels at a steady 30–50 percent.

Packing books Boxes for book storage should be strong, clean, dry and able to be closed. Ordinary cardboard cartons are suitable. Do not use boxes previously used to hold food, as food residue and odours will attract pests. Small or medium-sized books can be packed either lying flat or standing upright.

Wet books and papers are some of the most fragile items to be salvaged from a home or library after a flood. Paper loses strength when it gets wet, and books suffer damage due to swelling. Additionally, mold may begin to grow when objects are left damp for approximately 72 hours.

Vacuum Seal Bags

Place single books into a vacuum seal bag to keep all air exposure away from the book. The protective bag will also prevent a book from torn pages or worn corners. The air removal will also help prevent dust mites from getting on the books and causing potential damage.

Since bed bugs can be hard to see, lay the book against a white sheet or bathtub. It is possible that bed bugs may try to escape upon detection. To avoid migration, keep a vacuum and plastic bags close by. Seal infested books within a plastic bag immediately.

Additionally, a pair of bed bugs can multiply into a large infestation in a short period of time. Recent infestations have shown that bed bugs don't confine themselves to one area of a library. They've been found in computer areas, returned items, the book drop, under employees' chairs, and other places.

"Bookworm" is a common name used for several hundred insects that feed on books, including booklouse, silverfish, powderpost beetle, spider beetle, common furniture beetle, Mexican book beetle, paper worm (larvae of the paper beetle or moth), and larder beetle.

Various elements can damage a book. Store your books in a place with lower humidity fluctuations and a relatively normal temperature range–no attics or basem*nts!. When it comes to preserving old books, it's important that you try and maintain these conditions at all times.

What is considered old for books? ›

“Vintage” is another term often associated with books, and these are typically considered books more than 50 years old but less than 100. “Vintage books” tends to apply to collectibles, comics and mid-century volumes prized for their nostalgic value.

For those who like to display their favourite books in the open, a ziplock bag is an alternative to protect against dust. To reduce moisture getting trapped in the bag, pop in a pack of silica gel for good measure.

Moisture is needed for mold growth. Reducing the humidity below 55% is essential to stopping most mold growth. Mop up and/or use a wet-dry vacuum to remove any standing water. Bring in dehumidifiers as needed, but be sure that a mechanism is in place to drain them periodically so they do not overflow.

The best way to ensure that your books are stored in a cool, relatively dry, clean, and stable environment, we strongly suggest using a dehumidifier.

Never put food, even canned or dried food, in long term storage. Check all the goods you put into storage for food debris or residue. Food can attract rodents, insects and other pests. It can also rot and create some nasty odours.

Most items endure some damage if left in a standard storage unit for an extended period. Therefore, selecting a unit with adequate ventilation, space, and access is essential.

Now, just the act of moving books and photos into a self-storage unit does not instantly preserve or protect them. If not properly prepared for storage or stored properly inside a self-storage unit, these valuable items can still get damaged or fully ruined.

Books should not be stored in a garage or attic without proper climate and humidity control. They should also be kept away from any indoor heat sources such as fireplaces, radiators, and laundry dryers.

The best way to protect your books when storing them is by using bubble wrap or packing peanuts. This will help keep the covers safe and free from any damage.

Is dry air bad for books? ›

The time might come when you'll find your wooden floors, drywalls, furniture or wooden instruments dried out and cracked, too. Paper, books, and magazines will become brittle because of low humidity, especially important for book and art collectors.

Use a soft microfiber cloth and a mild cleanser safe for wood to dust and clean shelves. Avoid feather dusters as they only redistribute the dust and are not useful for cleaning shelves or books. Shelves must be dried completely before re-shelving books. These tips can help you keep your shelves clean and dust free.

The best containers for long term storage of books are watertight plastic bins. These bins seal tight so that flooding or dampness from outside won't permeate through the plastic. However, plastic containers will not allow moisture to be released either.

It's a really simple answer: copyright! That's right, this isn't some breakthrough of a design trick. Although it's actually kind of a hot button issue with book lovers who aren't fans of hiding the titles. It's because the network would have to get copyright clearance from every single title in order to display them.

Because of the uneven distribution of weight on horizontally stacked books, spine damage can be the result. The downward force on the spine over time can cause the book to bow, or to roll. Each of these conditions means that there can be permanent damage over time. The spine may break or pull loose from the binding.

Resist the impulse to push books toward the back wall. Instead, bring them forward. "My favorite tip is so simple," DeMorrow says. "Move all the books to meet the front edge of the bookshelf, giving a uniform look and eliminating telltale dust."

Dehumidifiers will suck excess moisture out of the air, moisture that could otherwise lead to loose bindings, stains and mildew. Oppositely, too little humidity can dry out books, so use a humidifier in the drier winter months.

Wherever possible try and keep the room temperature within the range of 16°C to 19°C (60-66°F); if you can measure relative humidity, it should be kept as constant as possible, within the range of 45% to 60%.

We recommend storing books in a plastic storage bin or container. This will help to further protect your books from moisture, dust, bugs and vermin.

Cardboard boxes are typically more readily available, cost-effective and best in temporary storage situations. If you plan on moving and unpacking in a short period of time, cardboard boxes should suffice. If you plan on keeping items in storage for a long period of time, plastic bins are definitely the way to go.

Should I freeze used books? ›

Freezing is a typical method used by museums to kill pest and insects. “Freezing is preferable to heat in this case, as heat can accelerate the aging of books and paper,” Lamson said. As a precaution, a bedbug-sniffing dog was brought in to make sure there were no signs of bedbugs in affected areas.

One of the biggest reasons why people don't typically store books in the garage is the humidity factor. Garages can be humid spaces, especially in hot or wet weather, and books and humidity don't go well together. You don't want your books to grow mold while they're sitting in your garage.

Don't keep books in plastic bags.

They need to breathe, and plastic may trap moisture, encouraging mold, warping, and pests. The plastic may also react with the book. If you really want to store a book in a bag, there are better options – try a paper bag or wrap the book in paper, tissue, or plain cloth.

Large heavy folio-size books are best stored flat. Other books on shelves should be kept upright at 90° to the surface of the shelf and should be supported on either side by books or book stands of similar size, to prevent the covers becoming warped.

The best way to pack hardcover books is to place them in the box standing upright. Place the spine of the book against the sides of the box. This is the same way you stack your books on your bookshelf. You can also pack hardcover books flat and stacked if they are all the same shape and size.

Small cardboard boxes are fine for short-term storage of both paperbacks and hardbound books. For particularly valuable books and longer term storage, consider acid-free archival boxes. These are the best storage containers for books. Be careful storing books in plastic containers.

Don't keep books in plastic bags.

They need to breathe, and plastic may trap moisture, encouraging mold, warping, and pests. The plastic may also react with the book. If you really want to store a book in a bag, there are better options – try a paper bag or wrap the book in paper, tissue, or plain cloth.

Large folio books, for example, are best stored horizontally on their side. Since folio books tend to be larger and the text blocks can be quite heavy, the weight of the text block can cause it to separate from the spine if they are stored in the upright position.

What is the best material to pack books? ›

While Klugh recommends grouping books by color for aesthetic purposes, those with a lot of tomes may want to stack them by genre or alphabetically so you can access them more efficiently. For a more streamlined look, arrange books by height, with the tallest on both sides of the shelves.

For maximum efficiency, you can sort all your books by height, then adjust each shelf so each category of book just barely squeezes in there. See how much space that leaves you at the bottom, and add one or two shelves, depending on the height of the remaining books.

One of the best places to keep your books is on a bookshelf in the main area of your house. Here's the right way to store them. Do place a bookshelf near an interior wall with enough space to allow for some air circulation. Placing a shelf next to an exterior wall may cause the temperature to fluctuate too much.