Tips on Displaying Your Book Collection
The Ghosty Gal
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You think it would be simple to figure out how to store and display your books. Put them on a bookshelf, of course. But, it's not so simple as it sounds. Many book enthusiasts think that old books belong in old bookcases and they will go out to an antique shop or an auction and by the first old book 
case they see. Wrong.
It's important to look past the brass trimming and the darling, carved gargoyles to see how the bookcase is constructed. Are the shelves adjustable in height? Are they sagging, cracked or splintered? Are all the shelf supports present? Are they sturdy enough to carry the weight of heavy books, tall enough to stand your folios up bright?
Whether or not your bookcase should have glass doors depends on several factors. Do you want the books handled? Are their children in the house to young to appreciate the delicacy of your treasurers? Will they be stored in a dry environment, or humid? Do you have pets who like to sit on top of a shelf of books? (Cats do.)
Glass doors are a great protection from dust and they cut down on the work you must do, as well as wear and tear on your books, keeping the collection clean. But they are bulky and stand between you and your books in a way that open shelves don't.
Bookends. Many bookends are collectible, intricately carved or stunning in brass, copper and bronze such as those from the Art Nouveau and the Arts and Crafts movements, but do they do the job. Bookends should keep your books from tumbling around and should support heavy volumes up right. If you find you're constantly repositioning and straightening or tightening them up, they aren't working and should be replaced. For the best service, and at a fraction of the cost of the fancy bookends, I recommend the L-shaped or T-shaped bookends in which the lower portion slides beneath the first several books. Be sure they're tall enough to support your books and at the edges are smooth and won't scoff the covers and pages.
It's important to look past the brass trimming and the darling, carved gargoyles to see how the bookcase is constructed. Are the shelves adjustable in height? Are they sagging, cracked or splintered? Are all the shelf supports present? Are they sturdy enough to carry the weight of heavy books, tall enough to stand your folios up bright?
Whether or not your bookcase should have glass doors depends on several factors. Do you want the books handled? Are their children in the house to young to appreciate the delicacy of your treasurers? Will they be stored in a dry environment, or humid? Do you have pets who like to sit on top of a shelf of books? (Cats do.)
Glass doors are a great protection from dust and they cut down on the work you must do, as well as wear and tear on your books, keeping the collection clean. But they are bulky and stand between you and your books in a way that open shelves don't.
Bookends. Many bookends are collectible, intricately carved or stunning in brass, copper and bronze such as those from the Art Nouveau and the Arts and Crafts movements, but do they do the job. Bookends should keep your books from tumbling around and should support heavy volumes up right. If you find you're constantly repositioning and straightening or tightening them up, they aren't working and should be replaced. For the best service, and at a fraction of the cost of the fancy bookends, I recommend the L-shaped or T-shaped bookends in which the lower portion slides beneath the first several books. Be sure they're tall enough to support your books and at the edges are smooth and won't scoff the covers and pages.
- It's important to look past the brass trimming and the darling, carved gargoyles to see how the bookcase is constructed.
- Glass doors are a great protection from dust and they cut down on the work you must do,
- Florescent light also damages books.