Newbie confronted with Brodart cataolg... Aaargh....

[plantluvver]

I know, technically this is not bookbinding, I am more interested in book care and repair, and choosing which books I am allowed to enjoy while eating.

My birthday is coming up soon, and I would like to splurge on shelves and bookjackets, and whatever, and start taking better care of my books. I also have been keeping my books in the attic, because I cannot abide the smell of mildewed books. I have a small house, with a semi-finished attic, and an unfinished basement. My main floor rooms are too small to house my books and have room for the more social activities that I would like space for.

So I am now thinking of moving my books to the basement. Can the humidity be monitored and controled adequately with products like Damp-rid? I have tried to look for useful information on home libraries, but my search results come up with only websites selling expensive furniture. I am more interested in function than fashion.

I am interested in collecting more for personal enjoyment, and perhaps to pass a love of books on to my as yet unborn grandchildren. (I am afraid that my son is a lost cause, he has never enjoyed reading.)

I thought that a bookbinding forum would be the best place to learn about the various qualities of book and book repair materials, and how to care for books, and how to select books to include in my library.

Any referrals to websites, books, suppliers, etc, would be appreciated.

Thank you,

Mary Megrant

[Tiara79]

Hm...I don't know about Damp-Rig...but I usually safe my books at cupboard with special material that's good to protect the book from the humidity of my basement. I forget what the name of the material is, but it really good for books or any other paper made documents. Try googling, maybe you'll find something.