Books
- How do I preserve my books?
- Should I wear gloves when handling rare books?
- Should I oil my leather books?
- What should I do if my books are damaged?
- Can I bring my books to the Library of Congress for conservation?
- Can I donate my books to the Library of Congress?
- How should I pack books for storage or shipping?
- Is it safe to store my books in the basement/attic/garage if I put them in plastic bags or bins?
- What should I do if my books get wet or moldy?
- How can I get rid of a musty or mildew-y smell from my books?
- How do I get rid of bookbugs?
- Are wood bookshelves okay to use?
- How should I clean my books and bookshelves?
- How do I copyright my book?
- What kind of self-stick (pressure-sensitive) call number labels are safe to use?
How do I preserve my books?
The most effective and economical preservation measures are preventive: proper storage, storage environment, and handling.
If conservation treatment is needed, see How do I find a conservator?
Should I wear gloves when handling rare books?
Always handle collection materials with clean hands whether wearing gloves or not.
Though clean gloves prevent the transfer of natural skin oils to paper, they make page turning difficult and increase clumsiness. Studies have shown that skin oils can affect how paper ages, but some preservation experts prioritize reducing the physical risk from reduced tactility; see "Misperceptions About White Gloves / Fausses idées sur les gants blancs," [PDF: 192 KB / 14 p] from International Preservation News.
Should I oil my leather books?
Do not oil or "dress" leather books. If the leather is crumbling, powdery, and spreading leather dust everywhere, the best options are to box the item 
or to consult a conservator, who can also address other condition problems that usually stem from deteriorating leather, including stiffness and cracking. For books that need to be handled, a polyester film jacket can help prevent the transfer of leather rot from hands to the pages.
What should I do if my books are damaged?
Conservation work to address damage is time consuming and costly to do correctly.
If the book is of value as a collector's item and infrequently used, consider leaving the book as-is, boxing and focusing on improving storage conditions.
If the book is of personal/sentimental value only, the damage is minor, and some risk of further damage from do-it-yourelf repair is acceptable, the Northeast Document Conservation Center has put together useful information for mending tears (Repairing Paper Artifacts). Do not use self-stick tape, even if it is marketed as "archival." The goal is to enable safer handling and to pair this with an effort to improve storage housing (i.e., boxing) and storage environment.
If the item is of particular value, has progressing damage, is handled frequently, or is otherwise complicated, consider consulting a conservator.
Can I bring my books to the Library of Congress for conservation?
The Library of Congress is not able to provide preservation or digitization services for items that are not part of the Library's collections.
Two main options for obtaining conservation services are: with a conservator in private practice or at a regional conservation center. The website of the American Institute for Conservation (AIC) features information on How to Choose a Conservator and How to Find a Conservator by region, specialty, type of service, etc. The Regional Alliance for Preservation (RAP) maintains a list of conservation services and of U.S. regional conservation centers by geographic area (note: not all RAP members, such as the Library of Congress, offers conservation services to the public).
Can I donate my books to the Library of Congress?
The Library's Acquisitions office handles donations of books and other materials. See also, Can I donate a book to the Library?
How should I pack books for storage or shipping?
- Choose boxes that are not too large or the packed box will be too heavy to handle safely.
- Choose acid- and lignin-free storage boxes if books will be stored for a prolonged period of time.
- Pack books flat in the box with heavier and larger volumes at the bottom or pack books vertically, spine down.
- Center the weight in the box for handling safety; pad out empty space; avoid overpacking the box.
- Follow recommendations for good storage environment.
For further information and useful diagrams, see Moving? (University of Chicago Library); Packing & storing books (State Library of Victoria); Packing and Shipping Paper Artifacts (Northeast Document Conservation Center); Moving library and archive collections [PDF: 1.57 MB / 23 p] (British Library).
Is it safe to store my books in the basement/attic/garage if I put them in plastic bags or bins?
Do not store objects of value in the basement, attic, or garage. These areas are unsuitable for safely storing collections because of poor temperature and relative humidity control and higher risk of leaks and floods.
Polyethylene or polypropylene bags or bins are useful as a secondary protection against water damage (first protection is avoiding areas of higher water risk), but do not offer protection against the deteriorating effects of environmental extremes found in basements/attics/garages . In addition, the combination of a plastic storage container in an area of high humidity increases mold risk.
What should I do if my books get wet or moldy?
Take necessary safety precautions if the water is contaminated with sewage or other hazards or if there is active (wet or furry) mold growth.
Set out books to air dry immediately upon getting wet or discovery of mold and control the ambient temperature and relative humidity. If newly wet or moldy books cannot be air dried within two days, prepare and freeze -- see Freezing and Drying Wet Books and Records (Northeast Document Conservation Center).
See also How to Salvage Wet Books [PDF: 186 KB / 4 p] (University of Michigan Library).
If there are mold stains only, ensure ambient relative humidity stays between 40-65% to prevent regrowth; check items regularly.
How can I get rid of a musty or mildew-y smell from my books?
If there is active (wet or furry) or dried mold, follow the procedures outlined above: What should I do if my books get wet or moldy?
Over time, musty odors will decrease when items are stored with air circulation/exposure (i.e., not enclosed in a box or other packaging) in cool environments with a relative humidity between 35-55%.
Additionally, you can: Increase the surface area of the book that is exposed to air (stand hardcover books slightly open to allow pages to fan out for several days; if the book is limp or large, lay open with each cover propped up so that the book is not lying flat open 180 degrees, and turn to a different part of the book over several days); Place book in a closed container with activated charcoal or baking soda (prevent the book from coming into contact with the charcoal or baking soda and check often to make sure there is no mold growth) for several days; Briefly expose book to sunlight, but only if the possibility of fading/discoloration/yellowing is acceptable.
How do I get rid of bookbugs?
Preventive measures are the first line of defense. Keep collections areas clean, tidy, and free from food and drink residues. Maintain relative humidity between 35-50%.
Once infested, books can be treated by freezing:
- Approaches to Insect Problems in Paper and Books
(Harry Ransom Center, University of Texas at Austin) - Solutions--Low Temperature Treatment (MuseumPests.net)
Are wood bookshelves okay to use?
When purchasing new shelving, metal shelves are preferable over wood shelves because the acids present in wood can migrate into paper and books and cause deterioration.
Existing wood shelves that cannot be replaced can be lined with a barrier such as polyester film, corrugated polyethylene or polypropylene board, metal foil laminate, acrylic sheet, or glass, to prevent books from coming into direct contact with the wood.
How should I clean my books and bookshelves?
Start with good housekeeping, keeping books off the floor, and regularly changing the air conditioning filters.
Dust books and shelves with "magnetic" dusters that do not contain any fragrances or other chemicals. Books can be vacuumed with a small, soft, brush hose attachment if the vacuum suction can be dialed down.
For further information, see Cleaning Books and Shelves (Northeast Document Conservation Center).
How do I copyright my book?
The United States Copyright Office handles copyright registrations.
What kind of self-stick (pressure-sensitive) call number labels are safe to use?
The Library of Congress has developed specifications for pressure-sensitive call number labels that can be affixed to book spines and to book boxes.
Two alternatives to applying pressure-sensitive call number labels directly to book spines are:
- Box the book and affix the label to the box
- Place a 2" wide cardstock tab (length of tab is 3/8" taller than length of book cover) inside the front cover, with the call number at the top of the tab so it's legible when the book is on the shelf
