Avoid excessive or fluctuating heat and humidity conditions. A cool, dark and dry storage area is ideal for most general collections. Avoid storing materials in attics, basements, outside buildings and around water pipes. These environments have excessive or fluctuating heat and humidity conditions. High humidity can promote mold growth.
Low humidity can dry out leather bindings.
The storage area should be clean and free of insects and rodents. If natural light or fluorescent light is necessary, an ultraviolet filtering materials should be used. Proper handling and storage can prolong its life. Most books are damaged by pulling the books off the shelf from the top of the spine. Practice the correct method of pushing the two adjoining books inward and remove the book by holding the spine.