Book Care for New Readers

May 15, 2010 Uncategorized 12

Don’t you just love getting new books? The smell, feel and the pretty cover just make it so addicting. Of course, let’s not forget about the great writing that is in between that front and back cover! We all have our favorite authors and genres that we must have whenever shopping for books. But have you ever wondered how to carefully take care of those precious gems? Well, I am going to share with you a couple of things to keep in mind when it comes to keeping those books in wonderful condition!

BOOKMARKS:
The first thing that comes to my mind when reading the book is how to keep your place in the book. It saddens me when I get a book from a second hand store or even from the library and I notice all the pages with folded corners! Gasp! The horror that gives me! How dare some people do that to the precious pages that have that glorious writing on it! I urge, no I demand, that everyone who reads books, please invest in bookmarks! I don’t care if it is an old piece of mail or a tag cut off from a piece of new clothing. USE ONE! Nothing is more annoying and destructive to a book than folding corners on the pages. That poor tree gave its life for those pages darn it, respect the tree!
BOOKCASES:
Yes, books need a place to sleep too. I recently quit crafting and decided to turn that area into a home library. If you take a look at my pictures on my blog, you will see I invested in some bookcases to house all those beauties! Now you don’t have to buy expensive shelves to do this. One of my shelves was from a product review for a company, one was passed down from my Grandmother, one was from the local thrift store, and one was purchased by my hubby at Walmart for $25.00! Trust me, this will be the best investment you can make for taking care of your books. I went a step further and alphabetized mine by author. This is not necessary, but organization helps a lot if you are a serious reader!
Now I can go on and on about more ways to take care of your books, but I am going to assume you know the basics now. Don’t use books as coaster’s for drinks. Don’t use them to prop open doors. Please, do not toss them around like paper. Books are a gift. They open new worlds for every person who picks it up. Take care of them and they will take care of the next reader.

12 Responses to “Book Care for New Readers”

  1. blueicegal

    oh no! i fold pages *gasps* OK i will deffo use my bookmarks more, i just tend to loose nearly all of them within days lol im really careless, thanks for keeping me in check! hahaaha 😀

  2. Rae Reads

    I know how you feel about folded corners. I hate it. I have around 100 bookmarks. I have so many because I am always letting people use them so they don’t fold the pages.

    I have run out of places to put bookcases. I need a bigger room. lol

  3. Sherry @ Flipping Pages for All Ages

    I use bookmarks for the most part but sometimes if I start reading a new book in the car or something I don’t always have something to use and I dog-ear. I wouldn’t ever do it to someone else’s book or a library book, but I don’t have a problem doing it to my own books that I purchased with my own money.

  4. Julie P

    Amen to that Amy! I can’t stand it when people dogear their pages. Another pet peeve–when I see people reading paperback books and they actually fold the front cover all the way around to the back and hold it in one hand–UGH!

  5. We 2 Bees

    I love your list & your blog! I always use a bookmark – even if it’s a tissue (clean of course).
    And I need more bookshelves I’ve run out of room! So sad!

  6. dkm1981

    Ooh I know how you feel – I can’t abide folded pages. I have a million and one bookmarks of all descriptions for exactly that reason – I’ve even been known to put a sock in a book temporarily! I’m a new follower by the way and I love your blog!

  7. GABY

    I love this post!! You’re so right, I hate when people fold the pages or worse: they write on them. *gasp*

  8. Anna ♥

    Wonderful post idea! I’ve always used a bookmark or memorized the page number. I like my books to stay looking pretty, inside and out~ LOL, I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone use a book as a doorstop but I have seen some used as coasters before. D: It’s only worse when the hot cup gets condensation on it and the moisture soaks into the book. Soggy books look so sad.

  9. Beth

    ohmigod, people bending pages and breaking spines is one of my BIGGEST peeves! My dad does it and he thinks it’s hilarious when I go off on him about it! I refuse to let him read any of my books unless he promises to take uttermost care of it! My books still look brand new!

    By the way, I have an award for you here!

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