Care, Preservation, and Display of Rare Books and Printed Materials

3. When removing a book from the shelf, do not grab the spine to retrieve it. Instead, gently reach over the front of the book and push it out. Otherwise, carefully push away the books on either side to remove the volume.

It is important that books and the surrounding storage area remain clean. This will minimize possibilities of pest infestation, as well as mold and fungus growth. Avoid eating, drinking and smoking around the collection. Regularly clean floors with a vacuum to prevent the accumulation of dust. Shelves can be dusted with a magnetic dust cloth or a dust cleaner such as Endust¹³. Avoid using a feather duster or a broom to clean, as these only disperse dust particles into the atmosphere. If you need to clean dust and dirt from a book, follow these procedures.

Hold the book firmly closed through the entire process.
Using a dust cloth, dust cleaner, or soft brush start from the top of the book. A vacuum cleaner can also be used with the suction reduced. Cheesecloth or soft screening can be tied over the nozzle as an extra precautionary measure to catch any loose bits that might accidentally break off¹⁴.
Always move away from the spine, to avoid dust from permanently accumulating there.

The terms preservation and conservation are often confused. Preservation is a broader term that encompasses the activities associated with maintaining reading and archival materials for use, either in their original physical form or in some other usable way. Conservation, falls under the definition of preservation, yet refers to more specific and complex techniques of treating old, damaged and frail reading materials. This would include chemical treatment and physical restructuring.

If you own a book, manuscript, pamphlet or ephemeral material that has undergone damage, either through old age, wear and tear, mold or acidification, it is most likely in your best interest to contact a professional conservator. A conservator will be able to properly assess the damage and cost of repair of your valuable object. The American Institute for Conservation (FAIC) provides a listing of professional conservators across the United States. Please refer to Resources for contact information.

¹³ Sherelyn Ogden. “Cleaning Books and Shelves” in Preservation of Library and Archival Materials, A Manual, 3rd. ed. Andover, MA: Northeast Document Conservation Center, 1999, 1.
¹⁴American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works, “Caring for Your Books”, in Caring for Your Treasures, 1997: 3.