Guardian Fine Art Services

  • Home
  • About
  • Videos
  • Our Services
    • Storage
    • Transportation & Logistics
    • Crating & Packing
    • Installation
    • Appraisals & Collections Management
    • Special Projects
  • Who We Serve
  • Press
  • Contact Us
  • Home
  • About
  • Videos
  • Our Services
    • Storage
    • Transportation & Logistics
    • Crating & Packing
    • Installation
    • Appraisals & Collections Management
    • Special Projects
  • Who We Serve
  • Press
  • Contact Us

Preserving Collections

Recommended Shelving for Safe Book Storage

6/16/2020

 
Picture
​Books have been stored on shelves in libraries and homes for centuries.  Unfortunately, oftentimes, the material of the shelves can cause harm. There are steps you can take to ensure your library is stored in ideal conditions.  Start with the room: good air circulation and a constant temperature of 70°F and 50% relative humidity are ideal.  Avoid letting in natural light as much as possible and use LED lamps, not incandescent or compact fluorescent for illumination. 
 
The material of the shelving should be carefully considered.  Traditional materials such as wood, even with sealing, may never stop off-gassing of harmful substances.  Certain sealants can also produce off-gassing, making the problem worse. Powder coated steel, if properly cured is a better choice for book shelving, but anodized aluminum is considered the first choice of many conservators and collectors.  Chrome-plated steel shelving with shelves made of chrome-plated steel wire works for books housed in archival in boxes. 
 
Keep books stored vertically and loosely supported by neighboring books.  Packing books in tightly will cause stress on covers and bindings when the books are removed. Leaning books on one another at an angle also causes undue stress. Books that are too tall to be stored upright can be laid horizontally, in stacks of three or less with polyester felt placed in between to avoid friction.  Keep an inch or more of shelving in front of the books.  Check the bare area of the shelf regularly for dust and signs of pests.  Important and delicate books will require special safeguarding such as archival covers or boxes.  If you are not certain that your books are stored properly, contact Guardian for assistance.  We offer sound scientific advice for ideal storage – whether in our secure storage facility or in your home, institution, or business.
liana link
10/5/2022 10:11:09 pm

thanks for info


Comments are closed.

    Archives

    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020

    Categories

    All
    Archival Framing
    Archives
    Books And Libraries
    Collectors
    Furniture
    Glass And Ceramic Objects
    Oil Paintings
    Sculpture
    Secure Storage
    Works On Paper

    RSS Feed

Guardian Fine Art Services
1635 W. St. Paul Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53233
[email protected]
​Phone: 414-252-0677
​Toll Free: 1-833-252-0677
Fax: 414-252-0647
  ​

​Terms and Conditions
Proud members of:
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Copyright ​© 2025
Picture
CHUBB Preferred Service Provider ​for Fine Art Storage and Services.