Storage units can be a great solution for storing your books. But to make sure that your books remain in good condition while in storage, there are some important steps you need to take. We will show you everything you need to know about how to store books in a storage unit.
In short, there are five key things to remember:
If you want to protect your books in storage, you need to start with the storage unit itself. If you leave your books in an old and leaky storage unit, water may enter the unit and damage your books. Similarly, you will want to keep your books out of direct sunlight to avoid sun damage. Climate-controlled storage units maintain a steady temperature, which will limit the risks of dampness affecting your books.
Make sure to buy good-quality packaging boxes for storing your books. If you are storing your books in boxes on top of each other, the last thing you want is a cheap cardboard box to give way, damaging your books. Strong plastic boxes can be good storage boxes for books, but ensure they are clean and dry before use.
Any mold, dirt, food, or liquid damage on your books will have plenty of time to spread in storage. Before packaging your books, give them plenty of time to air. This will limit the risk of dampness affecting your books in storage.
When you store your books in the storage unit, make sure that the books are stored upright - as you would do on a shelf or in a library. This helps the books to keep their shape, but make sure you pack the boxes appropriately, as this could damage the spines of the books.
The four steps above may be enough to protect your antique books, but it is recommended to speak to a specialist. You may want to take extra precautions, such as wrapping each book with paper, not packing boxes as full, and taking extra precautions when packing boxes. If you are storing antique books in a storage unit, you should, at minimum, look for climate-controlled units.
