A collection of Books is a treasure trove for the entire
family. The children grow with them. Elders find enlightening moments whenever they browse through its pages. Taking care of them is as important as using
them.
Whatever may be the advancements in the field of
information technology, where enormous information is crammed into CDs and
multimedia packs, books retain their own slot in the dissemination of knowledge?
Reading habits are to be inculcated among children. Most of the people, though
they may not be in the habit of regular reading, always make it a habit to buy books, whenever the chance arises. Arranging them in order is very important.
In order to make the books more accessible, they might be displayed prominently
in the living room or family room. This not only encourages active reading
habit amongst the members of the household, but also adds an interesting
dimension to the usual decorative knick- knacks.
For the bibliophiles and serious collectors, library
editions, rare books and author signed copies are some of the books that are
good for putting on display. On the other hand, a wide range of subjects such as fine arts, photography, interiors, travel, history, philosophy, biographies
and many more branches of knowledge form an eclectic collection, that proclaims
the good taste and varied interests of the collector. Adding a few visually
appealing books such as, coffee- table books with their decorative jackets and colorful
plates will add to the variety.
Open shelves, end tables, and cabinet tops can be used to
display books. Coordinated book sets such as reference books, encyclopedias,
atlas, etc., are more suitable for open shelves while books with decorative
jackets are apt for end tables. Decorating interiors with books is gaining a
lot of popularity and some websites and book stores even offer books in great
numbers.
If the collection of books is more for a display an
exclusive bookshelf to hold them will be the best alternative. One could invest in a bookcase made of wood or metal that has a glass front, which protects the
books from dust while at the same time allows the books to be viewed from
outside. Instead of arranging all the books vertically and stacking them
against one another, the books could be spaced out and arranged in different
styles to break the monotony. To get a more attractive display, different
arrangements on each shelf could be made. One could also use picture frames,
curios and other collectibles to make the exhibit more striking.
A couple of books on accent tables, in attractive baskets
on end tables, placed vertically on a shelf at the entrance, all add interest
and warmth to the decor, but it should always be better to ensure the look
remains uncluttered. Some bookmarks should be kept handy in an attractive
ceramic bowl or tray and then the look is complete. Arranging books and family
photographs to fill any empty comer wi 11 also create an interesting look.
Bookends are a useful accessory which could further add
interest to book arrangements. Bookends should always be selected in proportion to the size of the books that they support. Ornate or carved, animal figurines
such as horse. elephant, odd shapes, book ends in wood, iron, marble, stone,
bronze or brass all add up to the visual appeal to the decor.
Safeguarding the Books:
After having acquired such valuable collection of books,
spending precious energy, time and money, it is important to take utmost care
of the collection of books. It is advisable to store books in a constant temperature environment, preferably 20 to 24 degrees Celsius. High humidity can
cause moulds to grow and damage the books, while low humidity can affect the
glue in the book bindings. A relative humidity of 45-55 percent is considered to
be ideal. Exposure to too much light and dust should also be avoided.
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