how to store old books long term

Before reading old books, should i wear a glove?

Protecting Collections and Using Gloves for Handling

Sweat from our bodies is 98-99% water, but it also contains salt and sodium chloride, which can damage collections.

Wearing gloves isn’t just about protecting the items—it’s also for personal safety. For example, when handling items with mold or toxic materials, gloves are essential. Some green cloth-bound books from the mid-19th century contain toxic arsenic in the green pigment.

However, for most books and fragile paper materials, gloves are actually not recommended.

Why? Gloves reduce our sense of touch, making it easier to accidentally tear delicate paper. It’s better to wash hands thoroughly and keep them dry before handling such items.

When to Wear Gloves: For items like photographs, film negatives, microfilm, videotapes, slides, framed artwork, paintings, parchment, vellum, or polyester sheets, gloves are recommended. This prevents oils or dust from leaving hard-to-remove marks on these sensitive surfaces.

Types of Gloves

Common types include cotton, resin-based, and composite materials.

For books and paper, powder-free nitrile gloves are best. Cotton gloves are not recommended for handling paper.

Glove Fit: Choose gloves that fit well and avoid overly loose ones.

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Pros and Cons of Cotton Gloves:

100% cotton gloves are common for handling metals, photos, pottery, and stone artifacts. However, they are not ideal for books and paper because they:

• Slip Easily: Cotton gloves can be slippery, making it hard to handle paper.
• Absorb Oils: Thin cotton fibers can wear down over time, letting finger oils seep onto items.
• Attract Dirt: Cotton gloves collect dust easily, which can transfer dirt to clean paper, requiring frequent cleaning or replacement.

Recommended: Powder-Free Nitrile Gloves

If gloves are necessary, powder-free nitrile gloves are preferred, especially for glass, glazed ceramics, and other smooth surfaces.

Benefits of Nitrile Gloves:

• Good oil resistance, durability, airtightness, and aging resistance
• Fine touch sensitivity, prevents oil seepage, and limits dust transfer

Drawbacks: Hands can get sweaty with prolonged use, which isn’t a risk for items but can be uncomfortable. These gloves are also single-use. Powdered gloves are available for easier wearing, but powder can leave residue on items, so powder-free gloves are recommended.

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Latex gloves share similar qualities but may cause allergies. Avoid PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) gloves, which often contain harmful additives or plasticizers that may release gases. Look for labels on the packaging to avoid gloves marked “Vinyl” or “PVC.”

How to Wash Your Hands

For handling rare or antique books, just washing your hands and keeping them dry is generally enough.

Our hands carry oils, sweat, acids, and dirt that can cause lasting damage to old book paper. Be sure to wash your hands both before and after handling antique books, and keep them dry.

Avoid using hand sanitizers, as they may leave residues. Disinfectants are also not recommended, as their 75% alcohol content only sanitizes without removing oils.

Use a regular hand soap, rinse thoroughly, and dry your hands, but skip applying hand creams or moisturizers.

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Preparation and Precautions

Personal Preparation

1. Ensure hands are clean and dry.
2. Avoid nail polish and hand creams.
3. Remove rings, jewelry, and watches to prevent scratching the pages.
4. Secure loose items like keys, badges, scarves, and ties to avoid accidental contact with the book.
5. If needed, tie back your hair.

Setting Up Your Reading Area

1. Keep the space clean, and make sure the reading surface is clean and dry. If necessary, disinfect the table with 70% ethanol.
2. Ensure there’s enough space to accommodate larger items, such as atlases or art books.
3. Avoid placing items on the floor, as they can be damaged or pose tripping hazards.
4. Place soft materials on the table, like acid-free blotting paper, polyester cloth, cotton paper, Xuan paper, or cushioned foam, to protect the items.
5. Keep only pencils on the table—avoid other writing tools that could leave permanent marks.
6. Keep food and drinks away from the reading area to avoid attracting insects or spilling liquids.
7. No smoking in the reading area.

How to Safely Remove a Book from the Shelf

If a book is stored on a high shelf, don’t attempt to reach it by stretching. Instead, use a step ladder or stool to ensure safe access. Pulling a heavy or large book from a high place can easily lead to it falling, which risks damaging the book.

When removing a book, avoid grabbing the top of the spine and pulling it out, even though it may seem quick and convenient. Repeatedly pulling on the top of the spine causes wear and can lead to tears, breaking the connection between the spine and cover.

The Correct Way to Remove a Book

1. Push the books on either side of the one you want to retrieve slightly back.
2. Grip the book firmly in the middle and pull it out from the shelf.

Alternatively, you can gently push the book from behind to bring it forward enough to grip it by the middle, then remove it from the shelf.

Use the same technique to place books back on the shelf.

Tools for Page Turning

For delicate antique books, avoid using fingers directly to turn pages, as this can cause further damage to fragile edges and corners. Instead, consider using small tools like a mini spatula, paper lifter, or a small piece of paper to carefully lift and turn the pages.

For large volumes such as scrapbooks or photo albums, support both sides of the page by placing one hand on each side, gently turning the page to provide protection and stability.

Book Storage Guidelines

Ideal Storage Environment

• Recommended Temperature: 55–70°F (13–21°C), preferably below 64°F (18°C).
• Recommended Relative Humidity (RH): For paper, 30–50%; for parchment and vellum, 45–55%.
• Exhibit Areas: 55–70°F (13–21°C) with 35–45% RH.

For home storage, aim to keep humidity below 65% and temperature below 75°F (24°C). If on a budget, focus on controlling RH using air conditioning and dehumidifiers, especially during times of day when temperature and humidity fluctuate the most.

Location Considerations

• Avoid Basements, Attics, or Small Storage Rooms: These areas often have high humidity and temperature fluctuations, are prone to water damage, and are unsuitable for delicate materials.
• Keep Bookshelves Away from Direct Sunlight: Do not place shelves where they receive direct sunlight or close to exterior walls, as walls can absorb moisture and increase the risk of leaks. Avoid storing books directly on the floor.

Light Exposure

• Prevent Sun Exposure: Keep books away from windows or use heavy curtains or UV-blocking window films. Glass cabinets can also be fitted with UV-protective films.
• Choose the Right Lighting: Use LED lights with no UV emissions instead of incandescent or halogen bulbs. Turn off lights when the storage area is not in use to prevent exposure.

General Maintenance

• Ventilation and Dust Control: Keep the storage room clean and dust-free. If the room is near a busy street, keep windows closed to reduce pollutants and dust. Regularly clean the storage area and remove dust from your collection to maintain a pristine environment.

Following these steps will help preserve the integrity of your collection and minimize long-term wear and damage.