When it comes to storing your books for a long-term period of time, it is important that you store them correctly. Getting book storage right is imperative to making sure that your books stay in a good condition whilst they are in storage. 

Within this article, we are going to talk you through our top six book storage tips. 

Tip 1: Choose the Right Environment

With book storage, the right environment is crucial. The wrong temperature or humidity level could lead to the books getting damaged. 

The right environment for book storage is a cool temperature, room temperature or below, with humidity levels of 35%. The environment also needs to be clean and stable so it is a good idea to avoid lofts and basements as these are areas that have environmental extremes. 

You will also want an environment with minimal amounts of all kinds of light, in particular intense or direct light. 

Tip 2: Invest in Quality Shelving

When it comes to the shelving that you should use for your book storage, you should choose sturdy shelving that will be able to take the weight of all your books. 

Also, you should place books of similar sizes onto shelves together so that the books are supported by their neighbour on each side. 

Tip 3: Proper Book Placement

When it comes to how you should arrange your books within their book storage, placing them upright or flat will both work well and prevent your books from warping or becoming damaged. So, it is entirely up to you how you arrange them on your shelves.

We do advise that if you decide on upright that you keep the books straight and don’t have them leaning as this could lead to the books becoming damaged. 

Tip 4: Use Protective Materials

If you are wanting to store your books in boxes, instead of shelving them, it is really important that you use the correct protective materials. 

But, before you do anything, you will want to check them for any food or liquid damage. Many of us eat or drink whilst reading but if you place a book into storage that has any food or drink residue within it, this could lead to mould and mildew growing on it. 

Once you know they are free from food residue, you will want to wrap your books. You will want to wrap them in acid-free paper as this will stop the books covers and pages being damaged. 

Then you will want to place them into a box. You will want the box to be high-quality and sturdy. When you pack the box, do not pack the books in too tightly as this could lead to them becoming warped or covers being torn. Leave some space between them all and fill it with bubble wrap to prevent them from moving within the box. 

Tip 5: Regular Maintenance and Inspection

Once your books are in boxes, you will want to make regular checks to wherever you are using for book storage. Remember that you need to find somewhere with the correct environment (See Tip 1). 

Making regular checks to your books will allow you to catch any problems, such as mould or pests, early. You will want to make sure that you have clean hands and that you keep food and drink away from the books. If you find that the books need cleaning, you will want to use a microfiber cloth and if you find mould, the books will need disinfecting. Any that are glossy, board books, can be cleaned using rubbing alcohol and, if they are not, you can actually freeze them without hurting the book. 

If you have any worries or your books are particularly valuable, speak to an expert conserver. 

Tip 6: Utilise a Self Storage Facility

If you do not have the space or right environment within your home for correct book storage, you can utilise a self storage facility. By using a self storage facility, you will get as much space as you need and your books will be kept safe and secure. 

You will need to make sure that you pick the right self storage facility so that you can have peace of mind that your books are safe, whilst you still have the flexibility to alter or leave your unit if and when you need to. With our units, each is fitted with state of the art security features, including intruder alarm and we have 24/7 CCTV surveillance around each of our facilities. And all of our rental agreements are flexible so you are in complete control of your book storage. 

Essential Tips for Long-Term Book Storage

When it comes to book storage, it is really important to get it right because this is the only way that you can guarantee that your books will be protected from damage. Your book storage must have the right type of environment, with temperature, humidity and light all being important factors. 

You will want to store your books correctly, whether on shelves or in boxes, and you will want to perform regular checks, particularly to those packed away in boxes. 

If you find that you don’t have the space or right environment at home, it is a really good idea to consider using self storage. Self storage will give you a safe, climate-controlled environment where you can have peace of mind that your books are safe. 

If you would like to know more about our self storage, please click here to find your local store.