Tip #21: Handle books gently.

Written By Dmitri Schmidt

Tip #21: Handle books gently.

Well, duh. But what does that mean, “handle gently”?

First things first, when you remove a book from a shelf, grab it by the middle of the spine. Pulling from the top applies unequal stress and over time this can even cause the spine to detach.

If you have books you already know are fragile, consider investing in a book cradle (check out the second image [above]). Cradles support the book’s spine (not unlike a particularly ergonomic chair) and reduce the chance of the spine detaching. (Noticing a theme?)

Books’ spines are particularly vulnerable to damage due to mishandling, but so are their pages. When you flip a page, use your whole hand to support the page. Never pinch a corner and never lick your fingers. With large books, you might even want to use two hands.

Want to learn more about caring for your book collection? Check out our webinar on YouTube!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUZnW3sA-kI

#ArchivalTips #BacklogArchivists #Conservation #Preservation

Dmitri Schmidt

Dmitri plays a pivotal role in coordinating Backlog’s outreach efforts. They curate our weekly #FridayFinds and #ArchivalTips social media posts, shedding light on items discovered in our genealogy work and providing tips and tricks to approaching problems in the archives.

Dmitri holds a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and German Studies from Saint Louis University. During their university years, they dedicated over 1000 hours to interning and volunteering at local St. Louis institutions, including the St. Louis Science Center and the St. Louis University Museum of Art. As the Collections Intern at the Science Center, Dmitri assisted in developing and installing the "Into the Vault" exhibit.

Before joining Backlog, Dmitri served as a Fulbright Grantee, teaching English as a second language in former East Germany. From guiding 11th graders in analyzing pop albums as poetry to discussing the significance of the civil rights movement with 8th graders, they covered a broad spectrum of subjects. While reveling in connecting with students and injecting fun into grammar lessons, Dmitri's deep passion for all things archival eventually drew them back home.

Today, Dmitri works as a Herbarium Assistant at the Missouri Botanical Garden, helping digitize the millions of preserved plant specimens. After being scanned and transcribed, these images aid scholars around the globe in furthering botanical research. Dmitri also serves as the archivist for the Kirkwood Historical Society. They are currently overseeing the “Journeys into Kirkwood’s History” project, which aims to digitize documents related to Kirkwood’s early Black settlements.

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Tip #22: Leave repairs to the experts
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Tip #20: Don’t slouch on book arrangement