It's a problem that book lovers know well. So many books, so little time, and indeed, so little space. When your book collection grows out of control, you might have started to think about putting a portion of your books into storage. This allows you to keep them forever, and access them as needed, but without worrying that your bookshelves are going to break under the weight of all the books you have (as well as the books you just know you're going to buy). There are a few things to think about when you're planning to put your books into a self storage unit.

A Climate-Controlled Storage Unit 

If the books in question are of significant value (whether monetary or sentimental), then their preservation becomes even more important. For this reason you might wish to opt for a climate-controlled self storage unit. The regulated conditions inside the unit are kept at the optimum level to prevent degradation to the contents within, which in this case is paper. High levels of humidity (which can be a common occurrence in some parts of Australia) will create moisture, which can of course damage books over time. On the flipside, low humidity can dry books out, making their pages dangerously fragile. A climate-controlled self storage unit will obviously cost more than one without any types of climate regulation, and yet it can be worthwhile to ensure the longevity of your precious books.

A Traditional Storage Unit

Perhaps the books in question are not valuable as such, and are only going into storage due to a lack of space in your home (courtesy of that common bookworm affliction—the constant purchasing of new books). If you don't think that regulating the climate inside the unit is necessary for the books in question, then you'll just want to ensure that they are stored in a manner that will minimise any potential damage. Make sure that the books are clean and dry, and then place them inside a cardboard box. Acid-free cardboard is preferable. However unlikely, the introduction of moisture inside the storage unit could activate the acid content of some types of cardboard, meaning that they have the potential to damage the books contained inside them. Carefully stack the boxes inside the unit, with some type of buffer to prevent direct contact with the ground. This might be a small table or a set of shelves that have specifically been placed inside the unit.

There's no need to say goodbye to your beloved books, although if your bookworm habits continue, you might need to think about renting a bigger storage unit!

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