book experts help???

Question

My book got wet an moldy somehow, is there a way to save it or is it trash now??? **sob**

Answer 1

SOME ADVICE ON HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR BOOKS


Acidic materials used in modern book production mean signs of decay such as yellowing paper are inevitable. However do not despair, there is plenty you can do to help slow such processes down and avoid other forms of damage. The advice below should help you keep your books in the best possible condition for you and future generations to enjoy.


Light - All light contributes to paper decay and faded, rotting spines, but daylight is the worst offender. Protect your books by never storing them in direct sunlight and pull blinds when you are not in the room.


Temperature - Heat increases the rate at which chemical reactions occur but too little heat can cause damp and mould. Try and store your books at a temperature between 60-70'F.


Humidity - If your home is well sealed from draughts and centrally heated you will need to ensure that the atmosphere does not get too dry - try putting saucers of water above radiators and see how fast it evaporates. If the atmosphere is too dry, covers, especially of leather, will crack and paper becomes brittle. Conversely if it is too damp you may well get mould and pest infestations so avoid both these conditions - they are not good for you either!


Pests - Bookworms are the larvae of various beetles and they, like silverfish and cockroaches, love the starches, glues and gelatine found in the spines of books. Look out for signs such as little piles of brown dust (bookworm excreta) when cleaning and consult an expert immediately if you find anything. Silverfish and book lice only thrive in damp conditions. Mice and rats enjoy eating books so keep them away. The same goes for young children and puppies!


Storage - Do not keep books in attics (too hot and dry), cellars (too damp), and outhouses (possibly damp and open house for pests).


Shelving - Should be strong enough not to sag (if a shelf does sag, prop it up in the middle with a block of wood). Avoid placing shelves against an outside wall as this is more likely to be damp (or leave a good 1" gap between them and the wall) and do keep them away from radiators. There should be plenty of ventilation around books (stagnant air encourages mould) so it is best to position shelves just short of the back wall of the bookcase so air can circulate from top to bottom behind as well as in front. Do not push books right to the back of the shelf for the same reason. Keep surfaces smooth and do not use bookends with metal inserts to go under books as this will abrade the bindings. Adjustable shelves are most convenient as you should store your books upright and keep them close to each other in size (a very large book stored next to small ones will suffer strain as only a small part of it is supported). Use solid bookends to keep books upright and closely packed but not so tight that they are under pressure and difficult to remove. Store very large books flat but do not place others on top as you could damage the spines.


Handling books - When removing from the shelf do not take hold of the books by the top of the spine or pinch the sides with your fingers as either could damage the binding. Instead push the books beside the one you want back so that you can take hold of the sides properly, or if you can reach to the back push the book out from there. Always support large books with both hands as you remove them and keep them supported when in use. Do not mark places in books as follows; by using a pair of glasses, for example, as this can strain the spine and leave dents in the pages; by turning down page corners as you allow dust to creep in easily and damage the paper fibres on the fold; by leaving the book face down or up as this strains the spine and could crack it. Do not use rubber bands to hold a book together as the rubber will in time deteriorate and stick to the book. Instead tie a wide strip of cotton cloth around the book. If you have a very damaged book, put it in a box for safekeeping until you decide what you want to do with it. Long term storage should be in acid free boxes or folders. Do not use paperclips, staples and pins as these often rust and leave indelible stains. Do not press flowers in books as this stains the paper. Do not store cuttings etc in books as this puts strain on the spine and splits it. Newspaper is especially acidic and will cause damage to adjacent pages. Never use sellotape or any kind of pressure sensitive tape as it is almost impossible to remove and stains the paper badly. Post-it notes leave a residue which attracts dust and the acid content in them could migrate into the book pages.


Cleaning - Gives you the opportunity to inspect your books for any signs of pests or atmospheric damage. Dust top edges by brushing from spine outwards using a soft brush and holding book firmly so that dust does not simply fall into the book. You can use a mini hoover with brush attachment for this but it is best to line the nozzle behind the brush with muslin so that if bits of book did get sucked up you can easily retrieve them.


If in doubt or requiring further information regarding for example leather dressing, always consult an expert. Either your binder or the conservation studio of the local public records office will be able to help with minor queries or with major infestations and disasters such as floods.

Answer 2

I'm not an expert, but here's what I did. Page, by page, put plastic backed blotter paper between first page and second page, and gently blot with bleach soaked cotton rag to kill the mold. I did this with an electric heater fan blowing on my desk, while I worked. Then place blotter paper or several layers of paper towel between every page and place a heavy weight on top of the whole thing. Leave it overnight.

The book will never be the same, it will remain slightly wrinkled and brittle. You could maybe put a very small amount of mineral oil on the cloth with the bleach. I didn't try that. It had better be a very precious book, because this is very time consuming. If it is valuable as well as precious, contact a book restorer.

When the edges of my sewing machine manual got moldy, I took it to a copy machine. I used plastic to protect the screen, and simply copied each page. The copied pages are clean and easy to use, and have a decorative speckled edge. I have placed them in plastic protectors in a notebook now, so I won't have this problem again.

Answer 3

Dry away with a low speed heat with your hair dryer at a distance of more than 15 cms away from the book. If possible dry under sunlight. Sunlight also helps toget rid of any fungus buildup.

btw, am not a book expert and pls stop crying.

Answer 4

you can start by giving me your digits baby..