My fellow addicts, I need help. (And I feel like this has been discussed before, but can't find what I'm looking for.)

I have a very small amount of space to keep books where I live, so a good portion of the books I own are in storage. I currently have my books stored in cardboard boxes in a storage unit, but I realized that cardboard boxes might not be the best method for book storage. Because they're different sizes and not always sturdy, I can't do too much stacking and I'm not utilizing my storage space well.

I thought maybe I should start storing my books in plastic storage boxes. They'd be sturdy enough to hold my big, heavy books, durable enough to be stacked without caving under the weight of the boxes on top of them, and uniform sizes so they *could* be stacked.

So now I need help and advice. 1) I've been doing some research, and I haven't found anything yet that says NOT to store books in plastic boxes. Does anyone have any "No! Don't do it!!" stories? 2) What about moisture control? Being closed up in plastic bins, I'd imagine that if there's a bit of moisture, it could do some damage. Does anyone have any tips or advice for that? I've read a few things online (putting dried rice in the box?), but was wondering if anyone had anything else.

Thanks.

Putting some absorbent for taking up moisture should do. I was storing books for years in PVC / metal suitcases and if you take them out once in a few years and air them and if you put some moth balls inside, they should be safe. I think you are talking of may be 20 or 30 years time span. Libraries that need to store for hundreds of years have different methodologies for storage of books.

While I can relate to you (I have a few hundreds or more of books), I want to ask you whether you would really go back to them again. Why not donate them to others / libraries? So many new books are coming up that there may never be any time to go back.

Would be happy to know your perspective.

I wondered about moth balls, for some reason. I was also thinking about desiccant, but I'm not sure where a normal consumer can buy some (rather than a company buying in massive bulk).

I do give books away -- I donate to my library, I use Bookmooch, I sometimes sell to Half Price Books, I donate to Value Village -- however, these are books that I think I'll go back to, or that have sentimental value (perhaps just not enough sentimental value to keep *with me*), or are textbooks. And it's not as if I have a HUGE storage unit FILLED with books. It's a small unit, and holds stuff from throughout my life. Books are the majority of what's stored, but there's plenty of other stuff, too.

I too have book keepers problem. Now I'm 80 and thought time to pass books on but as I look at each one I find it is like an old friend. Of course some books easy to pass on. I feel also that books will not be available in the future. Read a book on line (I want to hold it and underline and make notes in mine) books on tape is ok but again not personal. And libraries cannot hold all books and they tend to overstock new books. If it is something you love and it gives you pleasure keep it.
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I too am / have been a book lover but then there are physical problems in storing hundreds or thousands of books even in one's own house! When I retired from a full time job with my organization where I worked for about 37 years, I left behind a cupboard full of technical books since I knew that I won't need them any more. I have lot of other books at home (which is owned and hence there is no need to shift) but the storage has become a problem. Also, as a reviewer, I get fresh books and I know that I will have very little time to go back to the ones that I read. Giving them away is the best solution.

In any case, see what resonates with you at this point of time and do that.

Thanks, Gwen! I feel the same about everything you said :)

Swamy - These are books that I KNOW I'm going to keep. I weed out books every couple of months, but I do keep a good number (nowhere near the thousands, though). Thus, I already know what resonates with me and have already been doing that; I just need advice on how to approach it better than what I'm currently doing.

Anyone else have ideas or advice on how to store and protect my books? Thanks :)

I know someone who stores books in plastic boxes. It seems to work. One caveat, though. If you stack them up, they will eventually cave in the boxes on the bottom.

Thanks Adrienne!