Storing books -real books

[Supertechmom]

Would this hurt anything? I am currently in the middle of 'GET RID OF IT ALL" and can't think straight.

 

I am seriously thinking of packing up every single book into rubber maid containers and storing them in the attic or garage. The only books out would be our current "year", our classics series (we have two very nice series), a set of pretty encyclopedias, and reference books(maps, dictionaries, etc). I would store each container by time period and have a separate one for each kind of science. Each kid would still have a book shelf in each room that would hold kid literature, their personal favorites and then I would need a place for preschool early reader type books

 

Any thing I am overlooking about putting them all in containers? it would still be available just maybe a little more work than grabbingsomething off the shelf. But if I wanted it, i would be able to get myself. I do have a library program for my ipad and have most of the books cataloged in there. I could make sure every book that went into containers was in it so i could just look it up on the ipad and locate it.

 

​ Thoughts?? I don't want to ruin my books if they sit in a container for 3 years before they get pulled out of storage and put back on the shelves. But I'm not seeing a down side at the moment. And yea I am just that organized that yearly rotating of books would not be any issue. Just another yearly thing we would do.

[klmama]

I have books in storage bins like that. They have not been ruined. They are in a basement room with a dehumidifier, though. If your attic or garage gets especially hot and humid, you may not have the same results. Does freezing hurt book bindings? You might want to check into that, too.

[happi duck]

Real Simple has some information here: http://www.realsimple.com/magazine-more/inside-magazine/ask-real-simple/ask-real-simple-best-way-store-books-00000000007841/index.html

 

If I were going to store a lot of books I think I'd start saving those little packets of silica that are packed with items to protect against moisture...friends and family might be willing to save them for you too.

[Kathryn]

Depends on the climate where you'll be storing them since I assume your attic and garage aren't climate-controlled.

[Wheres Toto]

I stored books out in a detached garage for 8 years. They were in tightly sealed plastic storage bins (lids taped down), we have four seasons (3 of which tend toward the wet), and the garage wasn't completely tight (home to chipmunks, spiders, crickets, and other icky things). I just recently brought the majority of them back into the house and they were all fine.

[Supertechmom]

Thank you guys! We only have two seasons maybe three on a crazy year and they range from cool to hot and hotter. I was just worried, I would pull them out and they would be unusable but you give me hope. I'm going to do that this weekend as I brought in even more books last weekend and have no space!!!!!