Paper is a very interesting piece of material. It allows us to convey even the deepest thoughts that we may have without judging them. Sometimes it feels as if you are talking to a friend, while there is no one there. Only you and ink. Safeguarding your thoughts and going back to them, later on, is something that can be very precious. No matter what place you may be at the moment of writing, reminiscing on them after a while can be a sort of a revelation. It’s thanks to the magic of paper that we can thank all of those writers of the old. Thanks to the books we get an insight into what the world used to be like, but so much more too. Some books can even have special meaning to us as people. So, what should we do for properly storing books long-term? Let’s see.
Make sure to introduce shelves to your storage unit
Storing books long-term: what to pay attention to
In order to make sure that our paper-friends will be around us for years to come, we need to find out what are the best tips for storing books long-term. After all, no matter how magnificent paper may be, it is still one of the most fragile pieces of material out there.
Therefore, in the case that you do not have enough space in your home for them, you should firstly get in touch with professional moving and storage NJ companies. Ask them whether they have space in which your precious books will be safely kept. Once on phone with them, ask them to elaborate in more details on the following subjects:
- Ask them about the availability of air conditioning in their storage units
- Find out whether there is enough space for shelves to be placed inside
- Get to know their history on pests
Lastly, make sure that you invest in the following:
- Plastic containers or wraps
- Clean them regularly
Sounds simple? It does because it is, just ask professional college movers!
Availability of air conditioning in storage units
No matter where you may be storing your items, at home or in a storage unit, you should make sure to be storing your books long-term in air-conditioned space.
Paper is a great material for making books since it is very thin but can be easily be printed on. However, it also very easily soaks in every drop of water. Surely you can imagine the result.
Alternatively, should you keep it in a too dry atmosphere, it can become even more fragile. Therefore, it is important to make sure that your professional storage services NJ can actually provide you with an air-conditioned unit for your books. In the end, storing them in an unsafe environment can be regarded as a sort of a crime. After all, it would be better to donate them to a library than let them wither away.
There is only one correct way to store your books
Is there space for shelves inside the storage units that you are thinking about renting?
The next question should provide you with an answer to the question of whether there are shelves inside storage units. If the answer is negative, you should find out whether you can introduce some. Too small a unit will not allow you to properly store your books. Therefore, you will receive no benefit from it.
You need to know that there is only one proper way of storing books long-term: in an upright position and with the book spine facing toward the reader. Additionally, make sure to keep the jacket on on all of your books. If some come without it, you might as well buy plastic see-through ones. Do whatever you need to do in order to protect your books.
Get to know the pest history of the storage provider
Mice and other pests are a real threat to your books. Therefore, you should make sure to rent a storage unit in which you will not have to deal with this kind of issues.
So, in order to make sure that there are no pests to deal with, firstly, ask the property owner whether they have or may have had some before. Depending on their answer, decide whether you are going to rent that business storage unit or not. Also, feel free to take a glance at the corners. If there are mice traps or poison around, the storage space may be fighting pest infection as you speak.
Invest in plastic containers or wraps
One of the things that you should buy is plastic sealable containers or plastic book jackets.
Sealable containers are the best protection for the books that you are not going to be needing soon. Feel free to place your company documents inside them. That is, after all, what document storage is for. Plus, they will allow you to use some space on the ground for storage.
Clean your storage regularly when storing books long-term
Dust is one of the book enemies that you need to fight
Dust is another enemy that you will need to fight. How? Well, there is no other way to do it than by cleaning regularly. Therefore, make sure to have enough time for maintenance of your storage unit. At least once a month you should be making sure that everything inside is clean and in order.
Conclusion
If you are thinking about storing books long-term, you need to do it the right way. Luckily, it is not a difficult thing to complete. All that you need to do is to follow the pieces of advice that we gave you above. You are all set with them.