How to store antique books long-term

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If you are an avid book-reader, or simply have a large book collection, chances are, you have some unique and antique gems in your inventory. Packing these books for storage can be very difficult as you obviously want to do it as safely as you can. If you are wondering how to store antique books long-term properly, then this is the right article for you. We are going to cover a step-by-step procedure for packing and storing your antique books. Furthermore, we will mention why it is so important to find appropriate, climate-controlled storage NYC for your books.

Make a checklist before you start packing

Before we go onto the ways you should pack your books, first things first. It is important that you know what you are dealing with exactly. Therefore, before any storage process, make a checklist of your inventory, in this case, a checklist of the antique books you have for upcoming storage. First of all, this checklist will tell you how many antique books you have in your collection. Secondly, it will roughly help you figure out the potential size of your storage unit. Furthermore, it will help you get a clearer picture of how many packing supplies and materials you might need for your storage. All of this helps you set up an accurate list of potential costs. It also helps you set up your budget accurately. So, you will also have an easier time finding the right storage units Manhattan for the needs and size of your inventory.

Making a checklist to store antique books.
Before you store antique books, create a simple checklist to have an easier understanding of what you are dealing with and how many supplies you need.

Gather the right packing supplies to properly store antique books

In order to pack your books properly for storage, you need to have the right packing supplies and materials. These materials and supplies will provide protection for your books during transportation and throughout the storage process. So, which supplies do you get for your antique books? Well, for starters, there are a few essential packing supplies that you will always need. These are the following:

  • Hard, cardboard boxes of high quality,
  • Packing paper,
  • Packing tape and scissors,
  • Labeling materials.

Once you get these essential packing supplies, you can proceed with the packing process. Do this on time and you will have an easier and a lot smoother packing process later on. Furthermore, with packing supplies ready, you can focus on researching and finding your secure self-storage NYC.

How to pack your antique books properly for storage

Once you have your checklist and packing supplies ready, you can start your packing process. However, keep in mind that you should never rush with the packing process. Especially if you are packing sensitive items such as antique books for storage. If you plan on doing the packing process on your own, there are a few important steps that you need to take. To begin with, make sure you know how to properly construct moving boxes. From there, prepare the boxes for upcoming packing by sealing the bottom well with a double layer of tape.

Since books have different covers, you may also want to take this into consideration when packing them. For example, when it comes to hardcover books, you should place them in a box standing upright, spine against the box’s side. The books should fit properly but make sure they are not squeezed too tight against each other or against the inside of the cardboard box. Ordinary paperback books can be packed in flat stacks. Alternatively, set them in spine-first so that the paper edges face up to avoid unwanted damage. In addition to this, depending on the size and quality of the books in question, you can employ several different packing methods in one box. Since we are talking about packing antique books, each one should be properly wrapped inside a protective packing paper just in case.

Packing books for storage.
Protect your sensitive, antique books by wrapping them inside a protective packing paper.

Label everything

The storage process does not necessarily have to be chaotic. Although you might have plenty of tasks to complete, you can make things more organized. One of the easiest ways of making storage smoother and more efficient is to label each box for its contents. This way you will know exactly where everything is packed. You can mark all of the boxes where your antique books are as sensitive and fragile. 

What to look for in a storage unit when storing antique books?

Storage units can be very different. There are lots of factors to take into consideration when looking for a storage solution. When it comes to antique books, however, you should focus on finding a climate-controlled unit first, as we have mentioned at the beginning of this article. In addition to this, always look for a good level of maintenance. A well-maintained storage unit means a clean storage unit. You should also look for a good level of security. Make sure you have easy but secure access to your storage. These are some of the things to look for before you rent storage in NYC for your antique books.

Man looking at a storage plan.
Thoroughly research storage solutions to find the ones that are right for the needs of your antique books.

Store away your antique books safely and successfully with reliable storage solutions

So, to sum up, as you can see, there are a few important steps to take when you want to store antique books. Do it properly by creating a simple but effective checklist, gathering the right packing supplies, and using the right packing methods. Most importantly, do a lot of research when it comes to storage solutions. This is especially the case if you are storing valuable office equipment, documents as well as easily breakable items. For your office items, look for reliable commercial storage units NYC. When it comes to your antique books, try to find well-maintained, climate-controlled units, and your books will be stored away safely and successfully.

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