Even in our modern world, where information is being transformed into digits and measured in megabytes of storage space, a classic book collection is always preferred by keen book lovers. No electronic reading device can replace the coziness of a small room with neatly arranged shelves, holding your favorite reads. Or the smell of the paper and the noise of the turning pages in the late hours when it’s only you under the dim light in the corner, the book and the magical world it reveals. Once in a while, there comes the time when you need to change the place you live in, together with your entire magical book corner. Here are some tips by moving experts on how to properly pack and transport your books to avoid each bibliophile’s nightmare:
The packing supplies you’ll need: small carton boxes, kraft paper, bubble wrap, tape, and sheets of cardboard.
- Books are heavy. Do not be misled by the airy feel of a single page – even a small box stuffed with books can weigh significantly and be very difficult to lift. So, the first thing is to properly choose your transportation boxes – they should be strong enough to hold the weight of the books inside and not too large, so that they can be easily handled.
- Optimize your book collection. There is another consideration for the weight of your book collection, aside from the ease of loading, unloading and handling – the costs. Regardless of whether you are going to hire a moving company to move your library or simply pay a hauler, they will all charge you by the weight of your load. Even the cheap paperbacks can add up substantially to the final weight of your book collection so that you may want to reconsider whether all of your books are so valuable for you to relocate them across the states. Perhaps this would be the right time to browse through your books and refine your collection to only those copies that are really worth the transport charges. The rest you may grant to someone who would certainly be getting the same joy reading them as you did.
Stack normal sized hardcover books upright in a small box, leaving little free space to avoid any unwanted shuffle during transportation.
- Stack the books in the boxes properly. To minimize the risk of damaging your nooks, they must be packed in a certain way and there is a “right way” to do it. First, when you assemble the boxes, reinforce the bottom side with tape and, if possible, put additional sheets of cardboard. Paperbacks and small hardcover books can be packed lying flat or standing upright, just like you will put them on the shelves. Large heavy books should only be packed lying on their spine to the bottom with the paper edges facing up. They must not be packed upright since this can cause books to warp and damage the bindings. If you put books of different size in one box, start with the heaviest ones first. Some books of higher value may be wrapped up in kraft paper before stacking them into the box. This is particularly good protection for books that have a slipcover that you don’t want to see harmed. For books of great value, use stiff cardboard in between to keep spines straight and prevent any movement during transportation.
- Arrange books in the boxes. It is a good idea to line the bottom and side of the boxes with bubble wrap for extra cushioning. Also, after putting the books in, use bubble wrap or wadded-up paper to fill any remaining spaces. Stacks of books in one box should be side-by-side with a bit of space between them. A single book should never cross or be part of two stacks – if the stacks are of different height, it will cause the spine of the book to bend and finally destroy it when you unpack the box. Stacks should reach near the top of the box, leaving a space of an inch or so above that can be padded.
- Some final touches. The boxes that you use to pack books should be dry and be able to be closed. Avoid boxes that were previously used to hold food as its residue odors may attract pets or insects. If you need to store the books for a while, choose dry, climate-controlled and pest-free room. Make sure the boxes are closed well and do not put them directly on the floor – use pallets or blocks to prevent damage in case of flooding. Arranging the boxes in high stacks inside the moving truck is not recommended if they are not firmly secured. Toppled boxes can easily fall and harm not only the books inside but also any other objects in the trailer. Here you can find a beautiful source on how to properly pack your books for moving.
That’s it – as simple as it looks! Sure enough, there’s a lot to go wrong if you are not familiar with these basic packing tips that have been worked out and recommended by librarians and moving experts. If you are facing a short-notice long-distance relocation, then the above tips will help you quickly pack your books and transport your collection with minimum risk of damage to any valuable copy.
