Penn State University Libraries - Care and Feeding of Special Collections Materials

Because they are old and well-used, many items from the Special Collections Library may look tattered and worn. In spite of the way they look, they are still rare and valuable, and we often have the only surviving copy. Treat them gently; they cannot be replaced.

• Use a book truck to keep books vertical and upright
• Do not place books on their fore-edges
• Do not stack books on top of one another
• Do not try to carry an armload of books

When possible, Special Collections Library staff will enclose brittle or damaged books in protective covers, or tie them up with red cloth binding ties or pink pull fasteners. Please leep the covers or cloth ties around the books when you are not using them. Tie the binding ties at the spine; if the ties are elsewhere, the knot will impress onto and snag the neighboring book.

• Retrieve a book from a shelf or book truck by slightly pushing in its neighbors and then grasping the middle of the spine; do not pull the book by its headcap.
• When handling or processing books, keep your hands as clean as possible; wash your hands after handling soiled books or those with red rot before handling others. Do not apply hand lotion or moisturizer after washing your hands. Do not eat or drink while processing. White cloth gloves are required to handle photographs and some rare books. Acids and oils in your skin can damage paper and photographs. Special Collections staff will also indicate if the item needs special handling.
• The paper of many older books crumbles at a touch. If the book you are working on is in this condition, try to avoid any unnecessary page turning. When turning a page, do not lick your fingers first, or bend the page until it creases. Do not use a commercial "sticky fingers" product which will leave a residue on the paper.
• If an opened book will not lie flat, hold the book in your hands or use book weights provided by the Special Collections Library. Do not use the orange weights or weigh down an open book with heavy objects or other books. Use foam book cradles to support the opened book.

• Use your pencil when processing books
• Never attach post-it notes, paper clips, or rubber bands to books
• Plastiklips will bend and impress pages
• Ink will leave permanent stains
• Do not write notes on paper resting on top of books; the pressure will leave an impression

Sometimes manuscript letters and/or photographs are tipped in or laid in a book. For a laid in item, consult the Manuscripts Specialist or appropriate staff in the Special Collections Library about removing the items to a separate acid-free folder. This will occur more often with items in Rare Books and Manuscripts.

• Placing printouts inside a book can damage the spine. Instead, tie packets and printouts to the outside of a book with the cloth ties provided by the Special Collections Library.
• A book or pamphlet with its wrapper are the only objects that should be placed in the envelope of pam binder. Tie packets and printouts to the outside of the binder.

• Placing printouts inside a book can damage the spine. Instead, tie packets and printouts to the outside of a book with the cloth ties provided by the Special Collections Library.
• A book or pamphlet with its wrapper are the only objects that should be placed in the envelope of a pam binder. Tie packets and printouts to the outside of the binder.