Need your advice : Book Maintenance

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VictorS
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Need your advice : Book Maintenance

Post by VictorS » Sat Mar 11, 2017 9:34 pm

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
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SimonC
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Re: Need your advice : Book Maintenance

Post by SimonC » Sun Mar 12, 2017 3:07 am

It looks like mould/mildew from humidity. Maybe some silica packets behind the books?
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BluBob
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Re: Need your advice : Book Maintenance

Post by BluBob » Sun Mar 12, 2017 3:20 am

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~
and now, on with the show ...

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VictorS
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Re: Need your advice : Book Maintenance

Post by VictorS » Sun Mar 12, 2017 11:35 am

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 !!

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Re: Need your advice : Book Maintenance

Post by EvanS » Sun Mar 12, 2017 1:58 pm

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...

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VictorS
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Re: Need your advice : Book Maintenance

Post by VictorS » Sun Mar 12, 2017 9:19 pm

Definitely interesting book to explore...Thanks EvanS for your input ! :) :)

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Richard Kaufman
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Re: Need your advice : Book Maintenance

Post by Richard Kaufman » Thu Mar 16, 2017 8:28 am

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.

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SimonC
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Re: Need your advice : Book Maintenance

Post by SimonC » Thu Mar 16, 2017 6:28 pm

Buy a kindle ;)
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VictorS
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Re: Need your advice : Book Maintenance

Post by VictorS » Thu Mar 16, 2017 8:55 pm

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/

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BluBob
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Re: Need your advice : Book Maintenance

Post by BluBob » Fri Mar 17, 2017 12:51 am

Less worry about pixel rot ...
Last edited by BluBob on Sun Mar 19, 2017 4:19 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Richard W
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Re: Need your advice : Book Maintenance

Post by Richard W » Sat Mar 18, 2017 2:30 pm

Pixel worm holes?
"let's continue on with this carnival-like atmosphere"

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