Since you’re reading this, we’re guessing you’ve discovered the amazing, money-saving benefits of renting textbooks instead of purchasing them. Of course, it defeats the purpose if you ruin those rentals and have to pay for damages.
Lucky for you, we’re here today to teach you how to protect that investment. Specifically, we’re going to show you the correct ways to store books from textbook rentals so you can return them in the same condition you received them in.
In addition, we’ll also teach you a few tips on the proper handling of your borrowed books. In short, you’ll gain a complete understanding of what damages books and how to keep them protected.
If you’ve made the choice to rent your books this semester, follow these proper book storage tips.
Avoid Your Rental Textbooks’ Worst Enemies
As we explore the proper textbook storage and care methods, it’s even more important to know the reasons behind them. That is, once you’re familiar with the most common contributors to textbook damage, it’s easier for you to avoid them—it’s common sense, even.
To that end, here’s how to protect against the worst offenders of textbook damage.
1. Keep Them Out of Light
Many of your textbook’s greatest enemies are natural factors, like sunlight. We all know how damaging the sun’s UV rays are to our skin. As you’d expect, they are no less damaging to your books.
Storing books in direct sunlight is a huge no-no. The UV rays will fade the book’s cover and even weaken the material it’s made of, whether hard or paperback. Then, the material becomes brittle, tearing and cracking more easily.
Storing in direct sunlight is guaranteed to accelerate the deterioration of the book’s cover/binding. If your bookcase is directly in the sun’s path, move it.
2. Keep Them Out of Heat
Heat is similar to UV rays in its ability to deteriorate your books. Prolonged exposure to higher-than-room-temperature heat can also weaken and/or warp your textbooks.
The tricky part is, it may be less obvious of a hazard than sunlight. For example, it seems natural to keep your books or bookcase next to your computer. But many computers give off heat, keeping your nearby books warm as you study for your upcoming tests.
You also may be unaware that your bookshelf is on top of a floor vent. If the heater comes on, the books stored on that shelf aren’t safe from heat damage.
3. Keep Them Away From Moisture
This should come as no surprise, but moisture is one of the most common ways books are damaged. But, again, it’s not always obvious that your book is in danger of this hazard.
You may, for example, be used to reading books while in the bath. Now, how you treat your own books is your prerogative.
But if the book is a rental, you really shouldn’t get it anywhere near the bath unless you want to end up purchasing it. Even the steam from the bath will cause moisture damage after repeated exposure to it. And don’t put drinks near your rented textbooks, either.
Also, if your dwelling is prone to mold, it’s probably best to store your rental books out in the open, like on a table. Don’t keep them near walls or corners.
4. Avoid Excess Pressure
It may seem that cramming your bookshelf tight with books is a good way to keep the bindings tight and compressed. In actuality, this puts too much pressure on books.
It crushes the binding and damages the structural integrity of the books. Store them with some decent breathing room.
Furthermore, large books should not be stored vertically. The heavy weight of all those pages will eventually make them pull away from the binding. Store large books on their sides.
But again, beware of putting too much pressure on them. That is, don’t make your piles of side-stacked books too tall.
5. Don’t Keep Certain Objects In or On Your Textbooks
Keeping objects stored in your book for a long time can dent pages and stretch/strain/otherwise wear out the binding. In other words, don’t use paperclips, pens, or other hard objects as bookmarks.
Even paper bookmarks are damaging to the binding if you leave them stored in the book in the same spot for several days or weeks. So refrain from keeping markers in your book to index certain sections for the duration of the course.
Also, don’t put sticky notes or tape in or on your books. If your book is ripped, it’s better to leave it ripped when your return it.
The adhesive will eventually stain the book. Besides, it’s not yours to repair.
Even if you remove tape/sticky notes before returning the book, the residue left behind will eventually stain it. So will newspaper clippings if left in the book—don’t use them as bookmarks.
Avoid Improper Handling
As a bonus, here are some common book handling issues you may not realize are also hazardous to your borrowed books.
First, since these are school books, you’ll probably take many notes while reading them. But don’t be lazy and use your rental book as a writing surface; it dents the pages. Plus, you may accidentally mark your book.
As tempting as it is, don’t lift/carry your book by the cover or the top of the spine. We know, it seems so convenient. But it is guaranteed to one day dramatically rip the cover right off the book.
Lastly, it may not seem that important, but if your book came with a dust jacket, keep it nice. Put it on when storing the book to protect against dust, but take it off when reading to keep it in good condition. And don’t use it as a bookmark.
Practice These Ways to Store Books
If you’re renting textbooks, be a good borrower. Remember: Other students need to use them after you’re done with them. And surely you don’t want to end up buying a book that’s too damaged to resell, especially after already completing the course you got it for.
So spare yourself this headache. Practice these five correct ways to store books from textbook rentals.
For more rental textbook tips, read Can I Sell Damaged Textbooks?