How to Care for Your Books
When taking care of books, it's helpful to think of them as little critters. They like to be warm, dry, and clean. They don't like to be manhandled; this includes having pages dog-eared, being used as drink coasters or door-stops. Just like works of art, they should not be placed in direct sunlight for long periods of time. High levels of humidity can encourage mold growth or insect damage, while extremely low humidity can turn leather-bound books crispy. Try to avoid eating while reading, as sticky fingers can leave marks, or attract unwanted animal attention.
| Your book is not a placemat! | ....................... | Proper eating and drinking distance. |
One of the most common ways of damaging a book is by pulling the book from the shelf by the headcap. If you can, try to move the books on either side, and grab the whole spine of the item.
Proper shelf storage is also very important. Try to place similarly sized books next to each other, or else the larger books will potentially warp on the shelf. If books are too large to place upright on the shelf, try to lay them flat, with the largest ones on the bottom, or by laying them on their spine, never on their fore-edge.
Never use scotch tape to mend a tear. I use special lightweight Japanese tissue paper and wheat or rice starch paste. Tape will discolor the paper underneath, turn brittle and often cause more damage than it solves. The fibers of the Japanese paper blend well, and after repair, the damage will be nearly invisible.
Lastly, should you have a water emergency (spill, flood, rainstorm, surprise sprinkler) here are some steps to best save your book: interleave the pages with some kind of absorbent material, such as paper towels or newsprint. Press between boards under weight and change out interleaving material until dry. You can also stand books upright and fan the pages in an area with good air circulation. Once the books are almost dry, place it under weights to prevent warping of the boards.
Be sure to take them for frequent walks, and don't mention the word, "e-book," within earshot.