Caring for information material books involves protecting them from damage and handling them properly to ensure their longevity.
Proper care of books, whether borrowed or owned, is essential for their preservation and continued usability. Based on recommended practices, key aspects involve environmental protection, careful handling, and appropriate methods for marking your place.
Essential Book Care Practices
Taking simple steps can significantly extend the life of books and other information materials. This involves being mindful of their environment and how you interact with them.
Protection from Environmental Hazards
Books are vulnerable to various environmental factors that can cause irreversible damage. Shielding them from these elements is a primary step in their care.
- Protect borrowed materials from rain, dampness, sun, heat, pets, and smoking and tobacco products.
Exposure to moisture (rain, dampness) can cause mold, mildew, and warped pages. Direct sunlight and excessive heat can fade covers and text, making pages brittle. Pets can cause physical damage like chewing or scratching. Smoke and tobacco products leave odors and residue that are difficult to remove and can stain materials.
Careful Handling Techniques
How you physically interact with a book impacts its structural integrity, especially delicate parts like the spine and pages.
- Handle books carefully, especially when photocopying and scanning.
When using books, avoid forcing them open too wide, which strains the spine. Be particularly cautious when placing books on scanners or photocopiers; do not press down too hard or bend the spine excessively to get a flat scan. Turn pages gently from the top or side corner.
Proper Page Marking
Using the right method to keep track of your reading progress prevents damage to the pages and binding.
- Mark your place with a bookmark; do not bend corners of pages or use tape, Post-It notes, paper clips, or other objects.
Bending page corners (dog-earing) creates permanent creases. Tape can stain pages and weaken the paper over time. Post-It notes, especially if left for long periods, can leave adhesive residue or even lift ink from the page. Paper clips can crease, tear, or indent pages. A simple, flat bookmark is the best tool for marking your place without causing harm.
Summary of Book Care Guidelines
Here is a quick overview of key do's and don'ts for caring for information material books, summarizing points derived from best practices:
| Do This | Avoid Doing This |
|---|---|
| Use a bookmark | Bend page corners (dog-earring) |
| Handle carefully | Force books open too wide |
| Protect from sun & heat | Leave books in direct sunlight or hot places |
| Keep away from moisture | Expose books to rain or dampness |
| Keep away from pets & smoke | Allow pets near books; expose books to smoke/tobacco |
| Be gentle when scanning/copying | Press down hard on scanners; bend spine excessively |
| Use tape, Post-Its, paper clips to mark pages |
Adhering to these simple guidelines helps preserve the condition of books for future use and enjoyment.
