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Book Care and Handling

Most of you will handle books or periodicals as part of your job at Murphy Library.  Part of all of our jobs is book preservation.  This not only applies to your work in the library, but also to textbooks and books in your home library.

Books deteriorate just sitting on the shelf.  The paper on which they are printed is acidic which destroys the cellulose fiber from which paper is made.  However, most damage to books occurs when we handle them.  We can slow the process of deterioration by doing the following:

DO’s

  • Wash your hands before handling books.
  • Handle books gently.
  • Use a clean work surface.
  • Protect books from water.
  • Avoid forcing books to lie open more than they can easily do.
  • Support the book cover when photocopying books.
  • Use caution when inserting or applying security strips, being careful so as not force them into the spine.
  • Remove books from a shelf by grasping it firmly by the spine.
  • Shelf books upright and supported by other books or a bookend.  Leaning books can cause the book to become distorted.
  • Whenever possible, return books inside the library rather than using the book drop.
  • Turn off stack lights when no one is using the aisle.  Light speeds the aging process of paper causing brittleness and discoloration.

DON’TS

  • Don’t eat or drink while handling or reading a book.  Food and drink can stain and destroy books and also attracts pests.
  • Don’t use books as a writing surface.
  • Don’t bend or dog ear pages.
  • Avoid using a highlighter in books.
  • Never use paper clips that crimp the pages, cause tears, and leave rust marks and holes.
  • Don’t use “post it” adhesive notes that can leave a residue.
  • Never use rubber bands that bend and rip pages as well as leave an acidic residue that causes the paper to deteriorate.
  • Never use staples that rust and make holes in the pages.
  • Don’t put an open book down on its face while open.  It can break the spine.
  • Never press an open book down hard on photocopier glass for a good image as this breaks the spine and loosens the pages.