True or false about storing books on a bookshelf

[Amesie]

<p>H and I are having a disagreement about how books should be placed on a bookshelf. H insists that it will harm the books’ spines to be placed flat on the shelf, rather than standing up. He is usually correct about these things but I thought I would seek a second opinion before I give in. (I want to re-arrange some of our books but our bookshelves are odd sizes and if I arranged them the way I want, not all of the books would fit standing up.)</p>

[Emaheevul07]

<p>If I stack books flat on their sides with other books on top, the spines do get messed up if there is a lot of weight on top. They go sort of lopsided. I do still stack some books that way but not too many so that there isn’t too much weight.</p>

[paying3tuitions]

<p>Compromise, but I’m not sure this lasts over time. My aunt, who sells antiquarian books, truly understands their preservation. She packs and sends them with the spine facing upward/parallel to the top of the box to keep pressure off the spine. At the same time, the books take up less height that way so might fit on the shelves that you prefer. However (big however!) I don’t know how this holds up over time. She only does this for shipping, which is not forever. And of course you can’t read the titles from the room, a disadvantage.</p>

[sk8rmom]

<p>According to the American Institute for Conservation, both of you are right:</p>

<p>

It is extremely important that books stood vertically on shelves are squarely upright and firmly supported by neighboring books or by bookends. Leaning at an angle puts stress on the entire book structure, deforming the spine and the joints where the covers are attached. Bookends must be stable and smooth so as not to damage the covers. Books should not be packed together so tightly,however, that they are difficult to remove without causing damage. Large,oversized books are best laid horizontally in stacks of no more than two or three high. Protective pads, such as squares of polyester felt, may be placed between stacked books to prevent them from rubbing.

</p>

<p>[AIC</a> - Caring for Books](<a href=“http://www.conservation-us.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=page.viewPage&PageID=626&d:\CFusionMX7\verity\Data\dummy.txt]AIC”>http://www.conservation-us.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=page.viewPage&PageID=626&d:\CFusionMX7\verity\Data\dummy.txt)</p>

[Colorado_mom]

<p>See the organization and declutter threads. If you have not already done so, Step 1 is to sort though and discard the less-loved books ;)</p>

[Booklady]

<p>Your H is right except, as sk8rmom’s quote says, if the books are large. Folios (large art books or atlases, for example) should ideally be stored horizontally, as the weight of the pages will eventually distort the books if they’re upright.</p>

[Amesie]

<p>Thanks for the replies. We did compromise–the hardcover books will remain upright and some of the lighter paperbacks will get put sideways. </p>

<p>

See the organization and declutter threads. If you have not already done so, Step 1 is to sort though and discard the less-loved books

</p>

<p>Ah, decluttering was actually the start of this problem. Once I had cleared out some of the less-loved books I decided the remaining ones could be organized by topic. But our bookshelves are complicating my plan.</p>