Home Office Moving Tips: How to Pack Books

If there are some items that are most often neglected during the moving process, this is it. Books are more likely to be placed in boxes and it ends there. They are one of the heaviest small items to pack especially when you have a large collection. However, professional movers encourage you to bring out your inner bookworm and give special consideration to books while packing and moving them. Properly packing your books - old or new - will keep the pages intact and their shelf-life for long. 

Now that you're learned how to pack and move your computer, this step-by-step guide to organizing your textbooks, paperbacks, encyclopedias, and prized collections comes well-recommended by professional movers: 

1. Have small boxes, packing tape, and packing paper available.
2. When it comes to boxes for your books, the smaller the better. This will prevent injuries when loading them into the truck and reduce the risk of tearing the box and everything inside. 
3. Sort out your books and find out what you can keep and which ones can be donated to charity or sold in a garage sale. There are three ways in which you can pack the books you want to bring to your new home: (1) straight up like how you arrange them in your shelves, (2) on their sides, or (3) with their spines down. As a general rule, pack large books at the bottom and the smallest ones should be on top. You can also combine these three ways of placing them inside the box. For an instance, paperbacks should be placed flat inside the box and stacked on top of the other; hardcovers are set upright or spine-side down. For valuable collections, like first editions, autographed books, or photo albums, you can wrap them in packing paper or bubble wraps before placing them inside the box. The same goes with leather-bound books -- use colorless cardboard before wrapping them.
4. Use crumpled plain newsprint paper to fill the gaps. This will protect the books during transport and ensure they are in excellent condition.
5. The recommended weight of the box is under 50 pounds. 30-35 pounds are a safe bet. Don't forget to seal and mark each box. Label them as "books" to alert the moving crew that those small boxes are heavy.
6. Place the boxes in a cool, dry place. 

Follow these tips from professional movers and you'll surely enjoy curling up with a good book to read in your new home!