Books are indeed beautiful objects, but it cannot be denied that their storage takes up a lot of space. If you're looking for a more elegant solution for storing your book collection, learn how to do it right. This article describes some of the proper storage methods for the books you have, and how to organize, clean, and care for your precious collection.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Protecting Books
Step 1. For the long term, store books in plastic containers
If you have so many books that you don't know what else to do, a transparent plastic storage box can be the best solution because you can close it and store it in a cool location. Plastic storage boxes help protect books from sunlight, mice, and other conditions, and boxes can be stacked in separate locations. If you don't need to pick up your books on a regular basis, plastic storage boxes are a great choice.
- Most retailers sell a variety of storage boxes in various sizes. Try to buy a relatively small box, no larger than 30 x 30 cm, or the box will become quite heavy once filled with books.
- It doesn't matter where you store these books as long as the temperature is consistent and cool. Attics and garages can be good choices in certain climates. Storage boxes made of polyurethane plastic are sufficient to protect books from insects and rats that are likely to bite the books.
Step 2. Find the right space to store your bookshelf boxes
Your bookshelf can no longer accommodate the books you have? Finding a place for all your old novels can be a tough job. But with the right storage techniques, you can find a place to store them.
- Keep the storage box under the bed, in the back of the closet, or in the basement. Try to keep books indoors if possible. Attics, sheds, and open garages can experience drastic changes in temperature, and this can have an adverse effect on binding and paper.
- Consider renting a storage space in your city to store books. If you have a lot of books, an indoor storage facility may be temperature controlled and suitable for a few old bookcases, while an outdoor garage may be good enough for your old novels.
Step 3. Store the book in a room with relatively low humidity
In very hot climates, books will begin to warp. Ideally, you should keep the relative humidity around 35%. Moisture causes the binding to warp, the paper to curl, and the book to damage. Ideally, for long-term storage you need a temperature-controlled room, with a humidity of around 35%. Good dry air circulation will have a good effect on books.
Humidity lower than 50-60% should be fine for most books, but rare or valuable books should always be stored in a place with humidity around 35%, indoors. However, if you care deeply about the little things when it comes to keeping your books safe, try to keep them in the lowest possible humidity
Step 4. Keep the book away from direct heat
Books stored close to hot air ducts, heat emitting equipment, and other sources of direct heat may warp. To protect the binding, store the book in a relatively cool place. In general climatic conditions, a room with a temperature of 15-24 degrees does not matter at all.
If you are concerned about the spread of heat in a particular room and the safety of your books, rotate them regularly to ensure that some books are not more exposed to heat than others
Step 5. Reduce direct light exposure
Dim light in the room will not affect the quality of the book too much. However, direct sunlight will always be loud and damage the volume and quality of the book. The room where the books are kept should be kept in the shade, with curtains covering the windows to protect the books.
Step 6. Store the book upright or flat
The best way to store books? Lie flat, or stand on the “tail” or bottom edge of the book. This means the book is stored upright, so you can read the spine properly. Books are designed to be stored this way, and can be supported by other books, while helping to keep the book stable and secure.
Never store a book with the binding or spine pointing up. This will always cause the hinges to crack, which will affect the life of the book
Step 7. Protect the book from nerds
The type of glue used to bind books and certain papers is often a tantalizing snack for cockroaches, bookworms, various beetles and other insects. In most cases, you don't have to worry too much about protecting your books from pests, but it doesn't hurt to keep food or crumbs in the bookroom so that they don't attract insects.
Step 8. Store rare books in a book jacket (book cover)
Books that are very rare, or books that you really want to protect from pests should be kept in plastic covers. Book covers are also available at most bookstores, perfect for the particular book you have.
If you find that some of your books have bugs, the best way to deal with them is to put them in a plastic bag and place them in the freezer for a few hours to kill the bugs, then clean the books thoroughly. Read the following sections for more information on how to properly clean books
Step 9. Consider looking to the conservator for very rare books
If you have a number of first editions or books that are really rare and you're really worried about having to take care of them yourself, consider hiring a professional to take care of them. Museums, libraries, and private collectors of rare books may be better places for these books than garages.
In America there are specialized institutions such as the American Institute for Conservation (AIC) which collect rare and historic works of art, and have various conservators and you can ask them to guide you through the bookkeeping process. In Indonesia, perhaps you can contact the National Archives of the Republic of Indonesia (ANRI)
Method 2 of 3: Cleaning Books
Step 1. Wash and dry hands before handling books
You know what the book's number one enemy is? Dirt and natural hand oils that stick when you handle them. When handling books, make sure you wash your hands with warm water and soap, and dry them thoroughly before picking up the book and turning the pages of the book, or cleaning it.
Very old, leather-bound, or rare books should be handled wearing latex gloves. Never eat or drink around an old book that you want to protect
Step 2. Clean the dust in the book storage room regularly
Books need to be cleaned so that dust does not accumulate. Generally, dusting in the usual way and the correct room temperature and environmental controls are sufficient to keep the book clean for a long time, unless the book is really dirty.
Start dusting by removing all the books from the shelves and cleaning the shelves thoroughly, removing dust and wiping all the shelves before putting the books back together
Step 3. Wipe the book with a clean magnetic cloth or lint-free cloth
The best way to clean old books is to use a microfiber cloth that traps dust inside. Instead of blowing dust to and fro, for example with a duster, this kind of cloth will trap the dust and get rid of it until there is no residue. Microfiber cloths are usually sold in almost all household goods retail stores.
Do not use water or other solvents to clean books. If you have a very rare book that is dirty, take it to a book dealer in your area and ask about restoration methods. Most books can simply be cleaned by carefully removing dust
Step 4. Start cleaning the book from “head” to “tail”
If you store your book upright on a shelf, usually the part of the book that is exposed to dust or dirt is the top of the cover, and the top of the binding. The bottom is usually clean. When you clean it, starting at the top, wipe the book carefully with a cloth and wipe the dust off the book.
Step 5. Use a mini vacuum cleaner
If your book is very dusty, it may be a good idea to use a mini vacuum cleaner, or a special hose on a regular vacuum cleaner to carefully vacuum the hinges and bindings. Run the vacuum over the top of the books while they are still stacked on the shelf to remove as much dust as possible, before you wipe the books individually with a cloth. This is a great way to get rid of the worst part of the book cleaning process.
Step 6. Vacuum the storage room regularly
In fact, most of the dust found in the book room comes from the floor. While dusting off the shelves is an important step, keeping your room clean by cleaning it regularly can help keep your books in top condition. Vacuum or sweep the floor at least once a week, especially if your books are in an area that is frequented by people, so they don't need a major cleaning.
Method 3 of 3: Displaying Books
Step 1. Choose the appropriate bookshelf
The best, most organized, and safest way to store books is on shelves designed for this purpose. Shelves are neat, easy to access, and allow you to quickly read the books you have on hand. Shelves like this are available at most home improvement retail stores and are always a good choice.
Natural, cured wood and sheet metal are the best bases for storing books. Synthetic paints or other chemicals used to paint shelves can leach into the binding or paper, and affect the quality of the book
Step 2. Display the books on top of the stacked wooden crates
One unique and unusual way to store and access your books is to arrange them in a pile of wooden crates. Old wooden crates carrying milk or other boxes of various sizes can be restored, then stacked in various patterns to fit the space you have.
- Stack the wooden boxes horizontally instead of vertically, so you can stack your books as if they were on a bookshelf. This will make the book easy to access and read.
- Think of this creation as a DIY bookshelf. Wooden crates allow you to organize books down to the smallest genres by placing cookbooks in one chest and novels in another, then placing the chests next to each other or in another room if necessary. These crates are easy to move around.
Step 3. Store children's books in themed containers mounted on walls
One creative idea for dealing with piles of children's books is to buy or make pieces of wood in the shape of animals, dinosaurs, or other children-themed shapes, and mount them on the wall. Once installed, complete with a small shelf or basket to store books at a height that children can reach. It's a great way to brighten up a kid's room while keeping all their books organized.
Step 4. Arrange the books on the shelves by genre
If you have a lot of books, one of the easiest ways to organize your books is to group them by genre. Keep novels in the novels group, nonfiction in the nonfiction group, and other genres in their respective groups. You can group them as specifically as you want.
- Within genres, you can create even more specialized groupings if you wish. In the history section, group military history books together, but separate them from regular history books, European history, and other subgenres.
- If you don't have a lot of different genres, just separate your books into two broad categories: Entertainment books and textbooks. Put all novels, stories, science fiction in the first category. Put all your schoolbooks in another category.
Step 5. Organize your books by size and shape
Want to make sure your books look neat on the shelves? Group books according to size and shape so that your shelves, stacks of books or wooden crates look neat. Arrange very long and thin books by other long and thin books, and group very thick and short books with similar books.
In addition to looking neat and organized, books can be better supported if they are arranged side by side with books of the same size. This will help stabilize the cover and binding
Step 6. Arrange the books alphabetically
If your thinking tends to be linear, it might make more sense to group your books alphabetically, for easy reference. The arrangement of the books on the shelves like this might seem a little more chaotic, and once you're done you'll find the odd book next to the other odd ones, but you'll always be able to find yours in alphabetical order.
Arrange books by title, or by author's last name when you group books alphabetically. In general, titles are easier to remember, but it's possible that you'll find many titles starting with “Sang” or “A” that may confuse you
Step 7. Arrange books by color
If you have a sense of design, arranging books by volume color can be a great way to give your room a certain glow, and make your bookshelf really stand out. Group books according to certain colors and place them on the shelves so that they form a smooth gradation, moving from one color to another.
