Shifting the books on the shelves may deter some infestations. Be sure to clean along baseboards, in cracks and anywhere else dirt and insects could hide. If you start to see significant numbers of insects, don't hesitate to call in professionals who can get rid of your unwanted guests safely and effectively. Certain kinds of organisms may prefer paper, leather or photographs. Brittle Paper Acidic wood pulp paper, which typically has short fibers that make the paper weak and acidic residues from the manufacturing process that cause it to deteriorate rapidly, is to blame for brittle pages.
Newsprint is highly acidic and deteriorates quickly, while most books take a little longer to decay.
Several options for dealing with brittle materials may be worth considering. If the original item is not as valuable as the information it contains you might consider converting it to microform or electronic format, or make a photocopy on alkaline paper. Commercial firms can make a bound photocopy of materials. Keep in mind that these options may result in some damage to the original during the duplication process. Some irreplaceable materials might be enclosed in alkaline containers available from binderies to slow down deterioration, but these containers do not stop the deterioration process.