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How to Preserve Family Bibles

Your beautiful family Bible is special not just because of your family's religious heritage and the message inside, but also because of its physical beauty--which may include gilt edges and leather binding--and the family records it contains. Unfortunately, time, incorrect handling and natural elements like humidity and sunlight can accelerate the deterioration of your family treasure. Early preservation efforts ensure a long shelf life for your family Bible---for the enjoyment of your grandchildren and future generations.

Things You'll Need

Archival shelf liner
Archival ink pen

Instructions

- 1
  Line your bookshelf with archival shelf liner. Acid found in natural wood can harm books over time. Purchase special shelf liner from a conservation supply store. Look for liner with foil backing and an alkaline-buffered surface.
- 2
  Store your Bible horizontally. Since family Bibles are large and heavy, lay yours flat on the shelf to avoid the pressure of excess weight on top that pulls down on the pages. Even better, store your Bible in a custom storage box, which you can buy from an archival supply store.
- 3
  Keep temperature between 68 and 70 F. Dallas-based Amigos Library Service warns that temperatures above 72 degrees encourage mold growth.
- 4
  Avoid high and low humidity. The Library of Congress recommends keeping books away from sources of high humidity, such as attics (moisture attracts bugs), or low humidity, such as hot radiators, which can dry out the leather binding.
- 5
  Handle with care. Your family Bible is meant to last longer than everyday books. Treat it differently. Avoid notes with adhesive backing, metal bookmarks and loose papers stuffed between the pages. Wash your hands before handling.
- 6
  Write family records in archival ink. Ink from ballpoint pens not only fades faster, but it also contains acids that can damage paper fibers. Choose an archival-ink pen to preserve your family records.

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