How to Store Books Long-Term

The full-service storage experts at All My Sons Moving & Storage offer tips for packing your collection of books for long-term storage.

Do you have an extensive library full of heavy textbooks, sci-fi paperbacks, or special edition romances? Your next relocation could have you packing those books for a move, or putting the books into storage until your next home is ready. Every book-lover knows that there’s something extra special about holding a physical copy of your favorite book. To ensure your books emerge from any extended stay in storage in pristine shape, follow this guide for the long-term storage of your books.

Whether you’re selecting a storage unit from a catalogue at a self-storage facility or looking for a place on your property for your books to live in boxes for a while, there are a few factors to consider that can damage your books over time.

• Temperature: According to the Library of Congress, the ideal temperature for storing books is around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Fluctuating temperatures can wreak havoc on your book’s delicate pages and bindings, causing them to break down faster over time.

• Moisture: Besides the obvious water damage that a little moisture can do to paper products like your books, moisture also promotes the growth of mold and mildew. 

• Light: Direct sunlight can have a bleach-like effect on covers and pages. If you are storing your books in a garage or drive-up storage unit, look for places where light leaks in and move your books away from those areas.

• Pests: You might be a human bookworm, but there are actual insects that the term originally belonged to. Pesky book-burrowing insects include silverfish, termites, beetle larvae, and book lice. Rodents also like to use paper to build nests and might gnaw or tear at your books if given the opportunity.

Preparing items for storage, including your books, is an essential step to making sure your books emerge from storage in great condition.

• Dust books with a clean microfiber cloth: Dust and dirt on your books can cause them to break down faster over time.

• Wrap books in acid-free paper: Protect antique books and beloved special editions by wrapping them in acid-free paper prior to putting them away in their boxes or containers. 

• Pack books with desiccants: Silica gel packets help to keep the air around your books dry, discouraging the growth of mold and mildew.

• Label all boxes and bins: To make searching for certain books easier, make sure to label all your book containers or keep an inventory of your books.

• Use shelving or pallets to keep book boxes off the floor: The floor of your storage unit is at the highest risk for exposure to moisture or pests. Keep air flowing through your unit by getting your boxes or bins of books off the floor.

Don’t make common mistakes people make when packing their storage unit. Take a little time before your move into storage to research, select the right unit, and make sure your unit is organized.

• Choose the right size unit: Pick a unit too large and you’re throwing away money every month, but pick a unit too small and you won’t be able to navigate inside. Select the smallest unit that can comfortably accommodate all your books, and leave just a little extra room for you to be able to move about the unit.

• Consider your access needs: Want to get into your unit often? Look into your facility’s access hours and carefully consider what level your unit will be on. If you do not intend to visit your books in storage at all, consider full-service storage. 

• Organize your unit well: Map your storage unit by ease of access, make sure every box and bin of books is clearly labeled, and consider creating an inventory of your books. When you organize your storage unit, you’re less likely to lose items or waste time searching. 

• Check on your unit: Catch problems before they become significant issues and inspect your books in storage. Ideally, you should search for signs of pests or mold periodically during your stay in storage. 

Breathe easy knowing your books are snug and safe until you are able to set up your fairytale library once more.

Considering full-service storage to protect your books? Ask All My Sons about storage facilities protected by controlled access and state-of-the-art surveillance systems near you. Click the quote button below to get started on your move.