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Need your advice : Book Maintenance

Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2017 9:34 pm
by VictorS
Hi everyone,

Yesterday I played around at my book shelf and found that some of the old books are starting to have brown spots mostly at the similar positions with other books too. It is a disturbing view but I don't know why. Luckily it is not happening to all of books but only few of them. I'm not sure if this is normal or i did something wrong but I really would like to know the root cause. Is it happening due to: type and age of the paper, humidity, wrong storage, cleanness of the shelf or any other factors? I am storing most of my books in a wood cabinet and all books stand like in shelfs. Similar things happens also to my friends here who collecting books. Once I experienced more horrible situation than this and lost all of my books but it's another story.

Really appreciated if you can share some advice for any correction or preventive actions. Many thanks in advance everyone.

Vic

Re: Need your advice : Book Maintenance

Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2017 3:07 am
by SimonC
It looks like mould/mildew from humidity. Maybe some silica packets behind the books?

Re: Need your advice : Book Maintenance

Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2017 3:20 am
by BluBob
Hi Victor,

I have a little knowledge about this but I have included a couple of links which explain the cause, specific terminology, strategies, prevention, and cures of the different phenomena.

http://realbook.com/article/foxing-brow ... -old-books

http://inspectapedia.com/mold/Foxing_Stains.php

I feel sure that others will have great tips as well,

Good luck, and all the best,
Bob~

Re: Need your advice : Book Maintenance

Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2017 11:35 am
by VictorS
Simon and Bob,

Really appreciate your help. This is new lessons learn for me. I never know about foxing and the links you gave me are the answers. Thanks so much. Humidity is the main problem here and unfortunately I live in the country with 80% of humidity...well I can't change that, but giving more room for the book air will be one of the easy solution at the moment. Foxing is fortunately not destructive, because I really had a horrible experience with termite. Thanks so much again guys !!

Re: Need your advice : Book Maintenance

Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2017 1:58 pm
by EvanS
There's a terrific book by Leo Behnke titled The Conservation of Magic. The book covers preservation techniques for a variety of items, from books, to ephemera, to cards, miscellaneous props, silks, etc...

Re: Need your advice : Book Maintenance

Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2017 9:19 pm
by VictorS
Definitely interesting book to explore...Thanks EvanS for your input ! :) :)

Re: Need your advice : Book Maintenance

Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2017 8:28 am
by Richard Kaufman
It's called "foxing" and is the bane of book collectors. As should be obvious, it's caused by moisture. The process can be stopped but not reversed. Get some dehumidifiers and keep them running full time by your bookcase.

Re: Need your advice : Book Maintenance

Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2017 6:28 pm
by SimonC
Buy a kindle ;)

Re: Need your advice : Book Maintenance

Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2017 8:55 pm
by VictorS
Richard, thanks so much for your advice !
Frankly speaking, I`m little bit worry on collecting books now. I will do my best to get this problem solved. My books definitely need more air because they are sitting in confined space :(

Simon, totally agree with you ! It will safe also more space and loads. We are moving also to the digitalization era. I believe, this is what Conjuring Arts Research Center is doing now. ;)
http://conjuringarts.org/

Re: Need your advice : Book Maintenance

Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2017 12:51 am
by BluBob
Less worry about pixel rot ...

Re: Need your advice : Book Maintenance

Posted: Sat Mar 18, 2017 2:30 pm
by Richard W
Pixel worm holes?