Certain conditions and elements in our environment can contribute to, and even accelerate the deterioration of books. Below are general preservation guidelines that can be easily applied to home libraries.
Light Levels
Light damages books and the materials from which they are made, especially light containing Ultraviolet (UV) rays, such as sunlight and fluorescent light. Thus, minimize light exposure as much as possible using shades to decrease the potential of light damage.
Temperature and Humidity
Besides light, there are additional environmental concerns, such as temperature and humidity. Relative humidity is a measure of the capacity of air to hold water; this amount varies with the increase or decrease of temperatures. Paper and other porous materials either absorb or lose moisture as temperature and humidity levels vary. This action causes stretching, shrinking, and the eventual breakdown of structural fibers, while contributing to formation of acids. While the relative humidity and ideal temperature levels for proper storage of books are yet to be agreed upon, consistency seems to be the key factor.
Location
Good air circulation around books should be maintained in storage areas. The best advice is to treat your book collection like one of your family. Hot attics and damp basements make poor living quarters and make poor storage facilities. Avoid placing bookshelves against outer walls or near windows. These areas have the greatest fluctuations in temperature and humidity levels and can be very damaging to books.
Storage
Book collections should be stored on bookshelves made from metal or sealed wood. The damaging acidic vapors released from unsealed wood can accelerate the deterioration of books. In addition, books should not be shelved too tightly or they may be damaged when removed. The use of bookends to hold books upright will eliminate strain on the bindings that leaning would cause. Oversized items may be stored lying flat on the shelf; if two or more books are stacked in this way, they should be arranged in size from largest on the bottom to smallest on top.
Handling
Take proper care when handling books by having clean hands and a clean area to use the book; keep food and drink away. Remove the book from the shelf by pushing back the books on either side of the book to be retrieved, grasp the book with one hand and use the other hand to support it from underneath. Once a book is removed from the shelf, the remaining books should be readjusted into an upright position. Do not attempt to carry more books than can be comfortably handled. Do not force a book to lie open to 180 degrees; instead, prop up the covers of an opened book to decrease the opening angle.
Housekeeping
Regular cleaning of areas where books are stored will ensure the protection of collections from dust and mold. It will also discourage insects and pests from devastating book collections.
Archival Storage Materials
Appropriate storage materials should be provided for fragile items. When selecting storage materials for your book and archival collections, be certain that the materials from which they are made are chemically stable. Do not wrap books in newspaper or plastic, nor store them in cardboard boxes, as acid in the cardboard and in newsprint will damage them.
Plastic wrappers can promote the growth of mold or mildew because they restrict air circulation. Moreover, some plastics degrade over time and fuse to the materials they are touching. Polyester, polypropylene and polyethylene are three types of plastic that are suitable for long-term storage. Also, never use adhesive tape to repair torn pages or a binding because it yellows with age and leaves a nasty residue.
References
rarebookrestoration.com
rbms.info
artic.edu
clir.org
manuscriptsmuseum.bibalex.org