How to Protect Rare Books
Owning a rare book is both a privilege and an investment. Protecting your rare books will allow future generations to view and learn from them. Keeping them in excellent condition will also
increase their value. Antique books and papers are very fragile and require special handling. Books are made of natural material and can deteriorate if not treated properly.
Treat your books with care. Do not allow anyone to eat or drink while handling your books. Never turn down the corners or use paper clips as bookmarks. Placing any item between the pages can leave imprints or damage the paper. Be careful about leaving fingerprints. If you have an extremely rare or valuable book, always wear acid free gloves and be very gentle when turning pages. Never pull the book by the spine and never force the book open all the way as this may cause cracking of the spine.
Sunlight and humidity are a rare book's worst enemy. You don’t want your book shelves receiving direct light. Sunlight, fluorescent and incandescent lights can fade the colors
and ink. Humidity or moisture in the air can also affect the condition of rare books. Lack of humidity can dry out the leather binding and covers. Too little humidity can also dry out the pages. Too much humidity can cause mold damage to your books. Never store your rare books in attics or basements where humidity cannot be controlled.
Rare books should not be packed too tightly on the shelves. You want to be able to remove them easily. Tall bookends will be needed to keep the books from leaning over. The shelves should be well-ventilated. Never place the books in plastic bags or cardboard boxes. A fragile rare book should be boxed for protection in a custom built box made of acid free materials and sized to fit the book.
You should never try to repair a rare book yourself. Tapes and glue can leave residue that will damage the book. Some tapes will also turn yellow with age. Special paper is needed to
mend pages. Always contact a skilled professional book conservator or bookbinder. Your local library can advise you on how to locate them.