Caring for Books
Storing Your Books
The simplest way to protect a treasured book is to house it in a custom-made, acid-free archival box. Our clamshell-style boxes feature a hinging lid that lets you open and view your book without lifting it out. This reduces unnecessary handling every time you want to take a look. Inside the box, your book is shielded from light, dust, and the everyday contact that gradually causes deterioration. Once boxed, always store books flat. Upright storage places strain on the spine and binding over time, and that's exactly the kind of slow, invisible damage we're here to help you avoid.
Custom Box
Every book is different, so every box should be too.
To order a custom archival box, simply provide us with your book's dimensions: Length (mm) × Width (mm) × Depth (mm) and we'll make a box that fits precisely.
A well fitted box does more than just look tidy on the shelf: it prevents the book from shifting, and provides consistent, even support on all sides.
Handling Your Books
Clean cotton or nitrile gloves are your best friend when handling special books. The natural oils and dirt on our hands transfer easily to covers and pages, and over time those deposits cause staining and accelerate deterioration. It's a small habit that makes a genuine difference.
Repairing Your Books
Before reaching for the tape, it's worth pausing. With older and rarer books, the signs of age and use are considered an important part of the object's history, and well intentioned repairs can actually reduce a book's value rather than restore it.
As a general rule, the more valuable, rare, or historically significant the book, the stronger the case for leaving it as it is and simply housing it in an acid-free archival box for protection. If your book is particularly old or rare, we'd recommend consulting a professional conservator before making any changes. You can find a conservator here.
For less valuable or newer books where a practical repair makes sense, we carry a range of acid-free tapes and adhesives designed specifically for book repair.
To help you choose the right tape for the job, here's a quick overview of the most common options: