Tips to Maintaining
Your Book's Health

Keeping your treasured Bibles, cook books, and children's books in good condition is easy. Follow these simple preventative steps to ensure you can enjoy your beloved family books for years to come.

Beware of Basements

Due to the dampness and chill of many basements, mold spots will grow on the covers and pages of your book within a relatively short time. If you must keep your books in the basement, store them in sturdy cardboard boxes and keep them off the floor.

Stand Books Upright

Prevent damaged book spines by standing all books perpendicular on a book shelf. It's important to keep the books a finger's width apart.

Avoid Attics

Books stored in attic spaces are more susceptible to drying out and cracking in the spine and hinge areas. They will also be stiff and brittle when used again. If you must keep your books in the attic, wrap them in a linen-type cloth and store in sturdy cardboard boxes. Be sure to place them away from windows, leaky areas, chimneys, stove pipes, and heating vents.

Use Bookmarks

Although its convenient, do not bend page corners when reading a book. Bent pages can result in the corners breaking off, and the print smudging. If you need to save your spot in a book, use a bookmark.

Do Not Bend Books

When reading a book, be sure to keep the book cover at no more than a 95° angle from each other. Laying flat, the covers should be at no more than a 180° angle to each other. Bending a book will result in cracked and broken spines.

Dust Regularly

Books should be dusted on all surface areas, every three to six months. Dust lightly, pushing away from the spine and page areas using a soft feather duster.

Wrap Books in Cloth

To avoid musty, odorous book covers and boards, do not store your books in air tight plastic wrapping. Wrap your books in cloth or fabric.

 

Resources

Repairing Your
Book Correctly

Unfortunately, you can't turn back the hands of time and undo the damage to books that is already done. If you have a damaged book that needs repair, be sure to have a professional do the job when your book is beyond saving.

Do not attempt to repair the book yourself with Scotch, duct, or packing tape. If you are in desperate need to patch a book, be sure to use Filmoplast acid-free tape. If done incorrectly, tape will leave acid markings and can do more damage than good.

For more information on the acid free tape, go to www.talas-nyc.com and search for Filmoplast.

More Information

 

 

If you would like more information on how you can prevent damage to your family books and Bibles, we would be more than happy to answer your questions. Our book knowledge includes:

how to prevent book damage

simple repairs that can be performed at home

whether you are in need of a full book repair and if so, what services are needed

Call for your free book repair quote!

800-504-9341