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How to Store Books Long-Term - Big Guy Storage
Books take up space, especially when you have an extensive library. Book lovers know that it is hard to part with their collection. Luckily, you can put them away and store them long-term instead of selling them. However, the question remains about how to store books long-term. We have the answers for you. Read on below to find out more about how to safely store a book collection long-term.
First, clean and dust your books correctly. Take off any dust jackets if your hardcover comes with one, and set it aside for now. After that, gently push it with a duster or use a microfiber to wipe it down before you store it. Shake the book back and forth from the spine to ensure any papers or bookmarks you might have lodged in it fall out before you store it. You would not be the first person to use a receipt or document as a bookmark. You might have something important in there!
Dusting eliminates any particles that accumulate over time, which likely happens if they have been sitting on your bookcase this whole time. After you are done, clean the dust jackets in the same manner and put them back on your hardcovers.
Make sure the temperature at which you store your books is around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Anything less or greater than that could cause damage to your pages. Humidity is also a huge factor. Storing your books in a place that has high humidity can cause the pages to become brittle over time.
To prevent discoloration, you will also want to ensure your book collection is in a dark place, far away from sunlight. UV rays can cause an astonishing amount of damage in the form of wilted pages and faded covers over time. This is especially true for older and vintage books.
Book lovers know how difficult it is to sell your books. You want to keep them ALL. What if I told you there was a way to do that? Instead of crying at a garage sale, store books in a storage unit! You paid a lot of money for those books, and we are sure many of them are out of print if you have been collecting them for a while.
Storage units often have humidity and temperature controls. They also keep your books safe, because many of them have 24-hour surveillance, controlled gate access, and a fenced perimeter. Who would not want to take advantage of that?
If you are interested in renting self storage for books, do yourself a favor and contact us at Big Guy Storage. We have numerous storage options for all your rental needs and will be happy to store your books with ease. Contact us today!