Preserving Your Rare Books
Published on Nov 24, 2015
A short informational presentation on caring for your rare book collection.
MORE DECKS TO EXPLORE
PRESENTATION OUTLINE
Deter Agents of Deterioration
- Light
- Pests
- Temperature
- Moisture & Humidity
- Handling
- Other Elements
Photo by ben.gallagher
Housing
- Use an enclosed bookcase.
- Store very rare books in acid free casing, laying on their sides, and avoid stacking.
- Refrain from using the lowest shelf, in case of flooding.
- An enclosed bookcase will also minimize exposure to dust, moisture, and pests.
Photo by ell brown
Room Environment
- Avoid as much light as possible.
- Keep temperature as steady as possible; ideally
- Keep room clean and treated for pests.
NOTE:
While we have some control over temperature, thanks to technological advancements, we do not have humidity control in our homes. Most antiques and artifacts will be acclimatized to their environment, and will remain relatively stable it their housing is left mostly undisturbed. Meaning, do not open and close the bookcase any more than absolutely necessary. The case acts as a micro-environment, and helps to keep the books in a stable atmosphere. Each time the case is opened, the environment is destroyed and reset. This can cause stress on aged papers and leathers.
While we have some control over temperature, thanks to technological advancements, we do not have humidity control in our homes. Most antiques and artifacts will be acclimatized to their environment, and will remain relatively stable it their housing is left mostly undisturbed. Meaning, do not open and close the bookcase any more than absolutely necessary. The case acts as a micro-environment, and helps to keep the books in a stable atmosphere. Each time the case is opened, the environment is destroyed and reset. This can cause stress on aged papers and leathers.
Photo by mikecogh
Handling
- Use rare books as little as possible.
- Never open rare books fully. Place in a Book Support while in use.
- Wear Latex or Nitrile gloves, not cotton, and use a bone knife to turn pages.
- Seek a professional conservator for any repairs, cleaning, or stabilization needs.
RESOURCES
- Amigos Library Services: www.amigos.org
- Gaylord Archival: www.gaylord.com
- University Products: http://www.universityproducts.com/
- Hollinger: http://www.hollingermetaledge.com/
- Don't forget to ask your local Reference Librarian!
Sources:
Most images used were from the Creative-Commons source offered on Haiku Deck.
Image of stacked books on the title slide was downloaded from morgueFile at http://mrg.bz/NL0Nqv
Information Sources:
Library of Congress. ND. "Care, Handling, and Storage of Books". Accessed February 16, 2015. http://www.loc.gov/preservation/care/books.html
National Park Service. 1993. Conserve O Grams. "Care and Security of Rare Books." Accessed February 16, 2015. http://www.nps.gov/museum/publications/conserveogram/19-02.pdf.
National Park Service. 1993. Conserve O Grams. "Use and Handling of Rare Books." Accessed February 16, 2015. http://www.nps.gov/museum/publications/conserveogram/19-03.pdf.
Image of stacked books on the title slide was downloaded from morgueFile at http://mrg.bz/NL0Nqv. All other images were pulled from within the Haiku Deck website.
Library of Congress. ND. "Care, Handling, and Storage of Books". Accessed February 16, 2015. http://www.loc.gov/preservation/care/books.html
National Park Service. 1993. Conserve O Grams. "Care and Security of Rare Books." Accessed February 16, 2015. http://www.nps.gov/museum/publications/conserveogram/19-02.pdf.
National Park Service. 1993. Conserve O Grams. "Use and Handling of Rare Books." Accessed February 16, 2015. http://www.nps.gov/museum/publications/conserveogram/19-03.pdf.
Image of stacked books on the title slide was downloaded from morgueFile at http://mrg.bz/NL0Nqv. All other images were pulled from within the Haiku Deck website.
