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ARPIN INTERNATIONAL GROUP
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Although moving books from one place to another is one of the most dreaded moments of any move, especially if you are a bibliophile, it is also one of the most fulfilling when things finally arrive at their new home. Our clients told us that arranging books calm them down as they try to organize their new apartments and gives them a sense of residence in the new space. And after over 12 decades of moving rare and precious libraries, we’ve discovered some helpful (and simple) strategies for moving piles of books.
1. Make your shelves lighter
One of the best things about moving is that it gives you the perfect motivation to clear out some of the books that have been gathering dust on your shelves. Start a month or two before the planned move, skim over the bookshelves and ask yourself if you really want to take that book with you to your new apartment (in addition to the many others you have). Your answer will generally be a resounding no. But when you decide to give away one of your books, don’t second-guess your decision – immediately take the bag of books to a used bookstore or somewhere you can sell, donate, and dispose of them.
2. Use appropriately sized boxes
This advice seems like common sense, but people usually make the same mistake. We have found that crates and cardboard boxes (which you probably received with all the books you ordered online) are great for transporting books and, by reusing them, for the environment, too! Books should be packed together in small cartons. They should be packed flat or with the spine facing down.
High-value books should be individually wrapped before placing in cartons.
3. Be resourceful when packing for moving
If you are not moving far, thicker plastic bags from the grocery store, household storage boxes, and even regular paper bags can also work for packing books. One of our associates also suggests using suitcases with wheels to transport books and clothes (much lighter than books!) with boxes. Whatever you use, you need to ensure the bottom is firm – you don’t want an avalanche of books to fall on your feet.
4. Develop a packing strategy and label the boxes
When you’re ready to pack your books, devise a strategy for packing them. Pack the books that are on the same shelf in the same boxes so you don’t have to fumble through the boxes looking for books when you unpack. And give yourself time to label the boxes so that the box names make sense to you. Our professionals usually write the genre’s name on the box. You can do it in more detail. For example, put a special label if you’ve read the books before so you can arrange your unread books easily. This will save you time and your sanity. Another excellent tip for those who prefer to keep their current arrangement of books, taking a picture of your library will serve as a visual reminder of where each book goes.
5. Pack books before other things
While it’s tempting to leave book packing for last, our experience is that it’s best to do it at the beginning of the packing process. Although it can be a hassle to have a bunch of boxes in your apartment, it’s best to have the heavy boxes full of books on the bottom, so that you won’t inadvertently crush more delicate items packed at a later date.
6. Pack carefully
Our professionals usually combine a variety of methods in each box. If your books will end up in storage before or after the move, do your best to protect their covers inside the box. You can also lay the books flat or pack them upright. However, you must ensure that none of the packed books are packed at an angle or bent, as they will be warped when you take them out of the box.
7. And bookie, don’t forget to set aside a few books to read!
Don’t pack all your books! Leave a few books so you have something to read just before and after you move, especially if you won’t have access to your entire library for a while. Put these books in the same box as other essentials like medicines and phone chargers. Running out of a good book to read when moving is tantamount to disaster.
8. Try to unpack books first (or at least put them away, so they don’t bother you)
Whether you live in smaller apartments or larger houses, leaving 20 boxes full of books on the floor can be a pretty ugly sight. After you arrange the furniture, most people prefer unpacking the books. Nothing can calm you down better than seeing your books lined up on the shelves and making more space to move around! If you have found a special place for your books (a spare room or even a library), store your boxes of books there and unpack them in due course.
Yes… Collecting books and moving can be quite a challenge. As you’ve read above, it is necessary to accept the change and tackle the inevitable challenges. One is packing personal belongings, which requires excellent organization and coordination. If you are in the moving phase and are interested in protecting books during the move, you can always ask us what the best we recommend for moving your home library is.
