The Best Methods to Use when Packaging Your Literary Collection for Moving

  • 10.05.2019
  • 1704

It is frustrating for owners to see their property ripped, pages folded, or jackets of their books being smashed. Transfer of books can be stressful if the right measures are not put forth from the onset. To minimize the damage that will happen to your books considerably. Here are some guidelines from long distance movers in St. John’s that will help.

  1. Re-organize Your Compilation

The 1st query that should pop into your mind when moving books is if you need them all. It may be testing to let some of the books in your assemblages go, but occasionally it is the best thing to do especially when you are trying to curate a good library. A decision on which books you will carry should be made. It is vital that the task of sorting out which stories to take and which ones to leave behind be done early enough before the hassle of relocation sets in.

For the Books to be Left Behind

Once the books have been sorted and decisions made, there are several options for books that are not being carried. Some of them are:

  • Hold a yard sale – if the prevailing weather conditions allow it, selling your books may be appropriate since it gives you a chance to earn from the books you choose to let go off
  • Book party – invite your kin and friends and let them go over the collection that you are willing to give up and pick those they want
  • Donations – giving your books away is also a great way of letting them go.

Where to Offer Your Books?

Different institutions will profit a lot if you give your pieces to them. Some of them are:

  • Friends of the public library association bookstores
  • Ottawa public library
  • St Joe’s women center
  • Saint Vincent de Paul, among others.

All these establishments rely on donations to be able to cater to the needs of people who do not have direct access to books and other resources.

  1. Packing Should be DoneEarly

Books are among items that should be given a priority when creating the packing plan. This is because it needs to be done with utmost care to make sure that none of the books are damaged.

  1. Categorize them by Size

Grouping your books by volume will make the packing process more manageable since you will have an idea of which books fit together and which ones don’t. The sorting should be done just after you have settled on the titles that you will bring with you to your new residence.

  1. Keep the Weight Low by Using Small Boxes

Carrying many books is a cumbersome affair as compared to taking just one. For ease of movement and safety of your books, it is essential that small packaging boxes are used.

For the packing boxes, ensure they are secure, lined, and adequately sealed off.

There are certain elements that you should have in mind when sourcing for boxes to pack up your books. For starters, the material used should be heavy cardboard, durable on the sides and corners.

Once the strength of the box has been determined, extra protection from dirt and fluids can be provided by taping up the bottom where the seams meet.

Extra cushioning should be availed using packing paper or newsprint. This way your books are more secure.

Where to get small boxes may be a challenge that presents itself. Some of the options that you have are:

  • Enquire at local stores
  • Get the boxes from us
  • Explore social media communities
  • Check with your colleagues at work, etc.

  1. Put to Task Rolling Suitcases

Suitcases are useful since they have adequate space to hold the books and they come with wheels that make movement much more comfortable. It is ideal to use for moving books since it cuts down on the energy and time spent moving the books from the house on to the moving vehicle.

  1. Consider the Weight of Books when Packing

Once the books are set aside using size, weight becomes another aspect that cannot be left out. More heavy books should go first then the mediums and the light ones should be at the top of the box. This is to prevent the lightweight books from getting crushed.

  1. Use Different Packing Techniques

There are three known secure ways to pack your books. The first option is to have them slat, on the backs. This system works best when the books are being stacked. They can be packed standing up as is the case when they are on shelves, or the spine of the books can be placed facing down to minimize damage on the pages.

  • Fill up any spaces in the packing boxes using other materials in the house
  • Double layers of tape should be used to secure the boxes carrying the books
  • Labels should be added on the packaging indicating the fragility of the contents and how the boxes should be placed when being loaded up
  • Keep a book or two with you when relocating
  • Unpack almost immediately when you get to your new locale

Sometimes, it may be necessary that your books remain in a storage facility. If the tips above are adhered to and temperatures are controlled the books are safe in storage.

For book enthusiasts, moving their library is a challenging task, and that is where long distance movers in St. John’s come in. No matter the size of the collection being transferred, movers have adequate resources to facilitate the move.

We recommend you to read “Tips On Moving A Balk Table” and “Relocating Fitness Paraphernalia”.

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