Caring for Your Books

Caring for Your Books
Source: American Institute for Conservation (AIC) Caring for Your Treasures Series

The book is an ingenious invention. Compact and portable, it has been the primary means of transmitting and preserving mankind’s accumulated knowledge for hundreds of years. Throughout that time, printers and bookbinders have used a wide variety of materials and structures. Some have proven to be remarkably durable; others have been vulnerable to chemical deterioration and mechanical stress. While these problems can be quite complex, a few simple preventive measures can greatly extend the life of a book.