What are the most valuable items you have in your possession? Is it all the jewelry you have, or the documents you are keeping in your safe? For some people, moving from California to North Carolina means they will need to deal with questions such as these. Keeping your valuable items safe is a priority! That’s why you want to find the best way to pack and transport them. But what happens when your most prized possession is your library? How can you pack your book collection for the move? There can be a lot of them, and they vary in size. This only complicated the already tough packing process. When you add the fact that the whole shipment can get quite heavy, things start looking grim. But fear not! There are ways to do this like a pro! Find out more in this article!
Before you pack your book collection, sort it out
One of the first things you need to consider is that you probably will not be able to take everything with you. This is very unfortunate, but an idea you need to get behind. Most of the moving companies Garner NC will charge you based on the weight of the shipment. Meanwhile, most book collections can weight quite a lot. If you are willing to pay for it all – then we advise you freely go ahead. However, if you are an average person, then you probably will not be able to afford to move your whole collection.
This is why it’s important to sit down and sort everything out before you pack your book collection. You will need to know exactly how much you are willing to pay to move, and – based on that – what you need to keep. This way, you can also figure out what you are willing to part with. If you really, really love a book – then, of course, you should take it with you. However, if you know you will not be reading something again, don’t be afraid to get rid of it. This doesn’t mean you’re throwing it away. There are many great homes for your old books. Libraries near you, second-hand stores and even churches and schools will accept donations. All you need to do is call them and ask!
Make sure you have the right boxes to pack your books collection
Once you are done sorting everything out, it’s time to pack your book collection. In order to do this like a pro, you will need high-quality packing supplies. However, keep in mind that it’s not only about getting the best supplies – you also need to get the right ones. This applies to their quality, but you also need to know how to choose the right size of moving boxes. If you get them too small, then your books won’t fit – or you will need to get a lot of moving boxes. Conversely, if you pick the large boxes, then they will be impossible to lift after you stuff them with your books.
That’s why you need medium boxes to pack your book collection. They should also be sturdy and able to hold the weight of all those books. What’s even more important is that they need to be free from dampness. This can damage your book collection considerably, so make sure to check for it if you are getting used boxes. Additionally, you will also need some sturdy packing tape to seal your boxes. Do this both on the bottom and the top so they don’t fall out. Finally, mark the box with the books you have in there – or a number which you can then add to your inventory list.
It is also a good idea to further secure your boxes with tapes. If you think there is a need for it, double (and even triple) taping the bottom and the sides of it is a must! When sealing them, make sure you are using more tape than the length of the box. This way, you will not only seal the box shut, but you will further secure the flap to the sides of the box.
How to pack your hardcover books
Now we finally arrive at actually packing your books. First, let’s take a look at the hardcover ones. These are often more expensive, and thus you will need to pay extra attention to them when packing. Usually, you will want to place them standing upright, with their spines against the box’s side. Basically, the way you are placing them on a shelf. This way, you are securing them in place – just make sure not to pack them too tightly, or you will damage them when pulling them out of the box.
However, if you have more expensive books in your collection, then you might want to wrap them in packing paper. Simply wrap each book in it before placing it in the box to further protect it for the trip. Sometimes, for even further protection, you will want to put cardboard between each volume. This way, you are keeping the spines straight and preventing them from shuffling inside the box. You can also use some padding or similar packing supplies for this, too.
How to pack your paperbacks
Paperbacks and ordinary hardcover books can be packed flat and then in stacks. However, you should still pack your book collection firmly so they don’t slip around and damage each other. Alternatively, you can pack them spine first with the edges face-up. The thing you should never do is pack them with their spines up because this will bend and warp the pages.
