If you collect books, treat them well. You would be surprised that books can be quite durable if you take care of them. Surprisingly, newer books do not have the quality of paper as older books have, as they have a higher acid content. As a result, modern books may discolor, become brittle, and even fall apart in fifty years or so. In addition, because there are other elements that are enemies to books.

     Fire can destroy books unless the books are in a safe. If a fire does light damage to a book it can be repaired.

     Water can damage books. A soaked book may be salvaged depending on the paper quality. Some modern books and newspapers cannot absorb moisture. Drying out a book is a delicate process, and should be left up to a professional. This process can be expensive, so you need to decide whether it is worth the cost to have the book restored. You can help prevent water damage by not putting books in rooms that have water pipes. Also, you might want to avoid putting books in kitchens and bathrooms.

     Avoid putting books in areas where there is excessive humidity or dryness. Humid areas can cause mold and mildew, and can curl paper and loosen bindings. Dry air can damage leather findings. It is also better to store books on open shelves rather than in glass cases where moisture can build up inside.

     Be careful when handling books. Avoid opening any book too wide or pressing it flat on a table. You can crack hinges if you do so. You can also damage books by wedging them too tightly on a shelf, or stacking too many of them on top of each other.

     Ultraviolet light from direct sunlight can also discolor pages. The interior lighting should be incandescent. Keep in mind that fluorescent light can damage books.

     Insects and pests are other enemies. If need be, have your house fumigated.

     If you do use bookshelves make sure that the shelves are sturdy, and are not cracked or splintered. Apply the necessary support if the shelves do sag: Use the services of a professional bookbinder if your books need repair for any reason. Unless the repair is minor and the book is not valuable, do not try to do the repair yourself.       

     Think positively. Once in awhile you might get lucky at a flea market or an estate sale. Two Calvin Coolidge political campaign buttons were recently discovered in an estate sale, as were old Barbie and Ginny dolls. Naturally, the chances are against something like this ever happening to you. If you do find a "treasure", make sure that it is the real thing. Another person thought that they had found an autographed photo of a young Charlie Chaplin. He soon was informed that the autograph was a copy of the signature and not an original.

   Unexpectedly finding a treasure can happen to you as well as to the next person. Just keep in mind that it does not happen too often.