Books are made to be read, shared, researched, and enjoyed—but everyday use, improper storage, and environmental conditions can cause lasting damage. In this Book Preservation 101 webinar, preservation consultant Rebecca Elder offers a practical introduction to caring for books in libraries, archives, museums, and personal collections.
You'll learn
- How environmental factors—including temperature, humidity and light—can affect books over time.
- Best practices for shelving, handling and transporting books to prevent damage.
- When protective enclosures, book cradles and other supplies can help safeguard vulnerable volumes.
- Common handling mistakes to avoid.
Rebecca's Favorite Preservation Resources:
- Build Your Own Four-Flap Enclosure Workshop ▶️
- In this workshop, Rebecca walks you through building a four-flap enclosure.
- Creating a Corrugated Clamshell Box
- The Library Company's step-by-step instructions for creating a drop-spine-style phase box.
- Preservation Leaflets - Northeast Document Conservation Center (NEDCC)
- Popular series of free leaflets that cover a wide variety of preservation topics
- Conserve-o-Grams - National Park Service (NPS)
- Short leaflets on a variety of subjects relevant to preservation of a variety of objects
- Tips for Preserving Your Family Treasures - National Museum of African American History & Culture (NMAAHC)
- Easy tips for caring for family heirlooms
- Caring for Your Belongings - American Institute for Conservation (AIC)
- Conservator-created resources on how to care for a variety of heirlooms
Rebecca Elder
Owner of Elder Preservation
Cultural Heritage Professional
Rebecca Elder is a cultural heritage preservation consultant with extensive experience in helping clients preserve their history collections. She offers tailored preservation plans for various institutions and is known for her warm and supportive professional style.