What do you do to take care of the books in your library? Some of the most avid collectors refuse to read the books in their collection; so the books remain in mint condition. Others buy two copies of a book; they read one, and leave the other untouched. But, many readers must read their books, but they still want to protect and care for the volumes. Here are some tips to remember if you want your books to remain in good condition.

Difficulty: Easy

Time Required: Varies

Here's How:

1.Avoid Writing You may have been told to write in the margins of your books, or even to underline or highlight words, phrases, and paragraphs. But, if you plan to keep the book, add it to your library, or even sell it--don't write in the book. The ink permanently damages your book. Use a journal or notebook to take notes on pages/passages; or use pieces of paper or Post-It notes. If you are required to write in your book, use a pencil, and erase the markings.

2.Avoid Food and Drink Food and liquids are hazards to your books. The best practice is to avoid eating or drinking while you read. If you need to read while you eat, make sure your fingers are clean and dry as you hold the book or turn the pages. Also, keep the book well away from the food and drink. Check the table (or other surfaces) for moisture, crumbs, and stickiness before you put your book down.

3.Take Care When you handle your book, hold it with care. When you read the book, don't fold down the corners of the pages (use a bookmark instead). Don't fold the cover of the book back. Don't break the binding; and don't place your book with the book open, face-down. Use a book cover/dust cover to keep your books in the best condition.

4.Shelve It When you handle your book, hold it with care. When you read the book, don't fold down the corners of the pages (use a bookmark instead). Don't fold the cover of the book back. Don't break the binding; and don't place your book with the book open, face-down. Use a book cover/dust cover to keep your books in the best condition.

5.Avoid Heat and Moisture When you install your bookshelves, make sure they are in a dry place--out of direct light, and away from the heat. If you shelve your books in a moist place (basement, bathroom, or other moist areas), mold and mildew can grow on your books. Sunlight can damage the bindings of your books. Too much heat can cause the books to dry out and the pages to crumble.

6.Avoid Bugs, Pets, and Other Critters Bugs and mice can eat books. Dogs can chew books; and cats can scratch the bindings of books. You can avoid many of these issues by keeping the books in a clean area (and using dust covers). If possible, it's always a good idea to keep the door of your library closed (to avoid accidental enticements for cats and dogs). Also, keeping food away from books also makes them less of a draw for mice and other critters (although mice sometimes chew books for nesting supplies). Avoid using spray or powders near your books.

7.Keep Out-of Kid's Reach It's important to encourage kids to read, and it's important for children to see you reading. But, kids can also tear pages, chew on the book, and contribute to the overall destruction of some of your most prized volumes. Depending on the ages of the children in your life, you may teach them to handle books with care. If they are of ages (or temperaments) where that's not possible: keep the door of your library shut, shelve books out-of-easy-reach, and/or purchase enclosed shelving units that lock. Again, the idea is not to discourage reading--just to protect books.

你都是怎么保养你图书室里书的呢？一些极端分子选择不去读他们的藏书，这样书就能一直是崭新的。还有一些人则购入两套，拿一套来读，另一套放着不动。但是，很多读者的藏书都是要读的，而且仍然需要护养。如果你希望你的书籍保存良好，那请记住下面这些小贴士：

难度：简单

时间需求：不定

操作：

1.勿涂写

也许有人说可以在书边栏上写写画画，甚至给词句段画上下划线，或是将其描上。但如果你想保存这本书，放进图书室，或是打算将其卖掉的话——千万别往上写东西。墨水会对你的书籍造成永久性伤害。用日记或笔记本来记东西吧，或是用小纸片，好易贴之类的。要是非写不可，那也最好用铅笔，事后擦去。

2.远离食物、饮料

食物及饮料对你的书籍来说是极危险的。最好的办法就是读书的时候不要吃喝，持书翻页之时确保指尖清洁干燥。同时，把书放的离食物酒水远点。把书放到桌上之前，确认桌面（或其他表面）没有水，面包渣以及粘质物体。

3.小心使用

拿书小心，读书时勿折书角（用书签代替）。勿折损封底。勿损坏书脊；勿将书籍翻开倒扣放置。封个书皮，保持书的良好状态。

4.放到书架上

如果你想保管好书籍，那在你没有阅读之时将其放于书架上。但同时要注意书籍是否正确放置。每本书都得正向、直立放置（勿将书倾斜放置，更不要堆成一堆）。每本书都要有足够的上部空间（书上面的空间），这样你在放书的时候才不会碰着书脊。若是没有放书架的地方，那把你的书放到盒子里——还是要直立着放。

5.防水防热

安置书架的时候，要将其置于干燥的地方——无直晒，无热源。若是将书放在了潮湿的地方（如地窖、浴室，或其他潮湿的地方），书上会长出霉菌。阳光会对书脊造成损坏。而过热则会使书籍干裂纸张脱落。

6.远离虫，宠物及其他牲畜

虫和老鼠会咬噬书籍，而狗要啃书；猫要挠书脊。将书放在干净的地方（封上书皮）则能避免很多这类问题。如果可能，将图书室的门一直关着也是不错的（以防猫狗的意外闯入）。另外，将书籍远离食物也使得他们对老鼠和其他牲畜没有那么大的吸引力（尽管有时老鼠啃书是为了筑巢），书籍附近勿有粉尘颗粒。

7.放在孩子够不到的地方

鼓励孩子去读书是很重要的，让孩子看见你在读书也是很重要的。但是，孩子们也很撕书，咬书，和之前那些因素一起毁掉你最为宝贵的书。你可以根据孩子们的年纪，教导他们小心使用书籍。如果他们年龄太小（或耐心不够），这招不管用：那就把图书室的门关上，把架子上的书放到不易拿取的地方，或者买可以上锁的书柜。还有就是，这样做不是不让孩子们读书，仅是为了保护书籍而已。