How to Care for Your Books the Way they Deserve

Our books give us many things: adventures, life lessons, entertainment — even friendship. But when was the last time you thought about how to show your books some love in return?

Our volumes can go through a lot over the course of their lives: getting shoved in bags or packed in boxes, having their spines bent or covers torn, even occasionally getting dropped in the bathtub or having coffee spilled over them (yep, guilty).

So how can we better care for our books, and keep them in good reading condition for years to come?

I’ve done some digging on all the ways our books like to be treated, and compiled a handy list bellow — so read on: your books will thank you!

Keep your books in an ideal environment

When it comes to keeping your prized volumes in good health, the right environment is key.

Books like to be kept in a room with minimal moisture levels and low heat, which prevent the development of mould. Room temperature is best, with no large fluctuations in heat and cold. They also don’t like to be kept near heat sources or vents.

Try not to place shelves against exterior walls, if possible; these often have larger variations in temperature and moisture, which is not good for the books.

Take this from someone who had a mould problem on their bookshelf and had to throw away a bunch of books (accompanied by many tears that probably didn’t help the moisture problem): there’s no coming back from mould. If you do see any signs of it, remove and isolate the affected book immediately, to prevent the problem spreading to your other books. But the best method to deal with mould is prevention, and environment is a key factor with this.

Avoid storing your books in places such as attics or basements, which can easily be too hot or too damp — perfect conditions for mould to flourish.

In addition, books don’t like too much light — especially direct sunlight. This can fade their colours, as well as yellow and deteriorate pages.

Shelve your books properly

You might think there is no best way to put a book on a shelf, but you would be wrong. The ideal spot is in the middle of the shelf: too far forward and they may get bumped and damaged, and too far back prevents airflow behind the books and cause trapped dust and mildew buildup, both of which are terrible for book health.

Arrangement also matters: books of similar size should go together, which keeps the pages and covers nicely pressed together, and prevents warping.

The books should be firmly pressed together, but not too tightly — if you can’t manage the perfect fit, consider using a bookend. An upright position is best, with no leaning.

Oversized books should be stored on their sides, to prevent the pages from pulling away from the spine, as often happens in larger volumes.

Clean regularly

Dust buildup can cause problems for your books; in order to keep them at their healthiest, you need to dust them often. Once a month is a good rule of thumb, and this can also keep you abreast of the condition of your books, including spotting mould and damage before they can become too far advanced to fix.

When dusting, use a lint-free cloth or even a vacuum on a gentle setting. Dust in a direction away from the spine of the book, to prevent dust getting trapped there. Don’t use any cleaning products or water, as these can easily damage the paper.

Handle your books with respect

When pulling a book from a shelf, don’t pull from the top of the spine, as this can cause damage; instead, pull from the sides, and close to the middle. If it helps, you can push back the book on either side to get a good grip.

If you want to take it even further, there are many other things you can do to keep your books in the best condition:

• Washing your hands before handling them can keep oils from building up on pages.

• When using bookmarks, opt for flat ones to avoid damage, and don’t dog-ear the pages to mark your place, or use sticky-notes, as the adhesive can mark the paper.

• Avoid eating or drinking near books or bookshelves, to prevent accidents.

• Try not to open your books too widely while reading, and support both covers as much as possible while you read, as this can prevent spine damage.

Going the extra mile

For an especially avid book-lover, there are even more extreme measures you can go to care for your books — though some can be expensive.

• Using a bookshelf with doors can prevent dust buildup or excessive light.

• You might even consider getting an air purifier to keep your books in good condition if the quality of the air where you live is bad, as some chemicals can be damaging to paper.

• Using plastic wrapping to cover your books can provide an extra layer of protection.

• You may also seek professional help from a conservator to repair damages, especially on older books, to restore them to their former glory.

Now, there is moderation to all this of course: if you prefer the look of a well-loved, dog-eared book; if you get more out of your reading by annotating and marking up your books; if there’s nothing you like better than to curl up with a coffee or tea while you read; or if you simply lack the proper resources or space to be able to store your home library properly — there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.

Books are made to be loved, however that looks to you. These are just some handy tips to ensure they stay in good condition to be adored way into the future; you may want to use some and disregard others, and that’s completely fine.

Love your books however you see fit, and rest assured that it’s what’s between the covers that counts, no matter what the outside looks like.