Has your book ever been the victim of a water damage crime? In this video, we’re going to learn how to treat water-damaged books with the University Libraries.
Step 1: Prepare the book
"If the water damage occurred recently, we want to first make sure the wet pages are separated so that they don’t stick together when dry. We’ll start by inserting sheets of plain paper towels between the pages."
Step 2: Use fan to dry book
"Next, leave the book out to dry under a fan. You’ll want to check on the book periodically and rotate it to make sure all areas of the book dry fully."
Step 3: Place book under heavyweight
"After the book dries, place it under a heavyweight, like a board with a heavy dictionary on top.. Leave the book under weight for a few days. Check periodically to see if it has flattened the desired amount.
"If you don’t have time to treat the book right away, put the book in a water-tight sealed bag and stick it in your freezer to prevent mold growth and any further damage while waiting for treatment.
"When you have time to treat the book, take it out of the freezer and bag and follow steps 1 through 3."
Step 4: Ask a Conservator
"If you’ve followed steps 1 through 3 and the book has not flattened enough, pages are stuck together or the paper is torn, now might be the time to ask a conservator for help, with the help of a professional, pages can be individually humidified and flattened without causing further damage.
For more information about Preservation and caring for your personal collections, visit the libraries' page on preservation and conservation care.
