3 ms·
I suppose this a good chance to ask: is it a good idea to try to keep old and browned books isolated from new ones? I imagine a cause of degradation is bacteria
by meruru 8y ago
I suppose this a good chance to ask: is it a good idea to try to keep old and browned books isolated from new ones? I imagine a cause of degradation is bacteria, so I worry that keeping them together will cause cross-contamination and accelerate the degradation process of new books.
Also, what other things can I do to preserve both old and new books? I sometimes clean them with alcohol which I'm not sure is a good idea. I also wrap some of them with plastic.
I tried to search the web for answers to these kinds of questions, but most results weren't very good. If there's a good place to look up/ask that sort of thing I'd like to know.
- kijin 8y agoOP doesn't mention bacteria, only a gradual breakdown of paper and ink components. Bacteria might play a role in the breakdown, but I'm guessing that most of it is just a reaction with oxygen and moisture in the air. That is, unless the books are so damp that they literally rot away. Chemicals can "infect" nearby objects, though, just like airborne bacteria. It's a well-known fact that the gas that comes out of a ripening apple causes nearby apples to ripen more quickly. Maybe a similar reaction can happen to books, especially if the breakdown products cause a change in acidity.
- meruru 8y agoSome of my oldest books had small roundish marks that come out if you vigorously wipe with a wet cloth. I'm pretty sure those must be bacteria living off organic matter from the paper.
- vokep 8y agoI imagine this is where the phrase "one bad apple ruins the whole batch" but it sounds like in practice, a good apple can also help get the whole batch ready, all the while getting old and tired. Not sure if there is any wisdom in that but it feels like it could have some. Something about teaching and getting old doing so?