Experts in different fields of preservation offered their advice and practical tips on safeguarding heirlooms. Your valuable papers, fading photos, crumbling textiles, worn and ragged books, and other cherished treasures can be preserved with a little attention and understanding. Look for the rest of this series in future editions of the Ancestry Daily News.

Common sense goes a long way in preserving and caring for books. The basic tips I am providing below will keep you aware of the proper storage and handling procedures of your rare and precious treasures.

Display
When displaying your book collection, stand them straight up on a bookshelf, but not so tight that the top edge will tear when removing it from the shelf. If the book is too tall for the shelf, lay it flat. Thick family Bibles and other large books deserve special attention. Standing these thick volumes upright on a shelf puts stress on the top edge of the spine and the binding will eventually break. Always lay oversized books flat.

Storage
When packing books, lay them flat in the box. If that is not possible, pack them spine edge down. Never pack books with the spine up. Wrap them in newsprint or old newspapers, but never in plastic. Books will stay in excellent condition for many years if they are wrapped in newspapers, carefully packed, and stored in a cool, dry place.

Repairs
Extensive book repair should always be done by a professional. Check with your local antiquarian (rare) bookstore, or the archives of a local college or university library for referrals. If you must make basic repairs to your books, use archival quality tapes and glues. Anything else will damage the paper and binding. This means no rubber cement, super glue, masking tape, duct tape, etc. Archival tapes and glues are generally reversible, pH balanced, and can be ordered from specialty catalogs.

Miscellaneous
Leather bindings become dry and brittle with age, causing cracked and broken spines. A light application of leather dressing is recommended every few years to keep the leather supple and to prevent it from cracking. Also, mementos between the pages such as flowers, newspaper clippings, photos, or paper clips will eventually damage the binding. Many are highly acidic and can stain the pages. Avoid anything between the pages other than a thin bookmark.

Remember that the four enemies of books are sunlight, plastic, water, and insects. Keep your books out of direct sunlight and never store them in plastic bags. Water causes irreparable damage to books, so if you must store them in the basement, put them a few inches off the floor on palettes or boards. And insects consider books a gourmet meal.

Whether you have antiquarian books, priceless family heirlooms, or research volumes, common sense and good care will preserve your treasures for generations.

Articles in this Series
Part 1: Photos, by Karen Frisch

Part 2: Paper, by Barbara Sagraves

Part 3: Books, by Joan Nay

Part 4: Textiles, by George G. Morgan

Part 5: Other Treasures, by Miriam Plans

Joan Nay, Used Books Manager at Sam Weller Books, is an officer of Western Epics Publishing Co. and an associate member of the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America.