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 Taking Care Of Your Old Books
The way a book is cared for will have a direct result in how long the book will last over time. Value and condition of vintage books will determine the care of the book over time. There are some very specific dos and don'ts on caring and storing old vintage books and magazines in order to extend the life and value of them. By storing or handling the book incorrectly you can drastically reduce the longevity of the book and cause a decrease in its value.
 Humidity
A book should always be stored in a cool dry clean environment that takes into consideration the level of humidity. When you have a higher humidity it will accelerate the deterioration of both the pages and the binding. In extreme humidity such as what is found in a basement or an attic, a book can become moldy or damp. On the other hand, when you have extremely low humidity you can dry the book out, both on the inside and the outside.
 Sunlight Exposure
Books should never be placed in direct sunlight. Old bindings especially leather ones can fade, as well as the pages. With a large amount of sunlight the color of the leather bindings can change or dull.
Dust
If you leave your books out on shelves in a rarely used room, it is import to dust the books regularly, because a buildup of dust will adversely affect the books as well. Regular dusting can also keep other mites and insects away and off the books.
 Storing On Bookshelves And Handling
There are older books that no matter how you try, you can't get it to lay flat. Do not force the book to open further than it would normally open. This can rip the binding and disfigure the book. When you do open the book it should always be supported by your hands to avoid any cracking in the binding. Some books can be damaged by even pulling them out of the bookshelf the wrong way. Instead of grabbing the book by the head cap they should be grasped by the spine. To do this you can simply push the adjoining books inward so that you can securely grasp the middle of the spine to pull the book out.
When placing books on a bookshelf try to group the same size books together to avoid the warping of a larger book next to a smaller book. Not packing the bookshelf too tightly so that you can get to your book easily, but at the same time, it shouldn't be so loose that the books continually fall down to angle to the side.
 Paper Clips
The other thing I noticed in some of my vintage collectible papers, are rusty marks and imprints over time. If you use the plastic coated paper clips, you may still damage the fibers of the paper by leaving imprints and folds on the paper, may even be discoloration caused by chemicals in some of the color paper clips. Metal paper clips can cause rust and tarnish as well as stains on the pages. Paper clips can tear your pages, and break down the fibers of the paper making it weak and vulnerable to other environmental damages.
 Tape Damage
I do not know any type of tape on the market that if placed on paper will not damage the fibers of the paper. I have personally seen a lot of damage to books and other paper materials done by the use of tape.
String Damage
Strings can cut into the paper and tear brittle pages and cause a lot of paper fiber breakdown. Strings can slice a paper product like a knife. Strings can also put tension on corners causing them to crease and fold. String use has been known to even fold and warp the cardboard covers of hard cover books.
Rubber Band Damage
They can cause tears in the paper, as well as folds, curls and creases. The material in rubber bands cause it to dry out and become brittle over time and sometime leave a stain or sticky residue on the paper. Rubber bands curl and bend material by the tension they place on them. Sometimes those curls and bends never recover to flat stages.
Other Damages
Pens and ink can damage and bled through paper. Highlighters and other markers will damage paper fibers. Some bookmarks such as ones with paper clips, metal, can crease and fold and make the papers weak.
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