How to pack books without making boxes too heavy
The books seem easy to pack because they have regular shapes, but their weight grows quickly. A library should be prepared for small groups, distinguishing the common volumes from albums, delicate collections and books that will serve immediately in the new house.
Make a selection before you start
Photograph the library layout if you want to recreate it. Then separate the books to carry, those intended for another person and those you want to keep available during the transfer. This choice should be made before closing the boxes: reopening all the necks to recover one text loses time and often spoils the closures.
The collections can be arranged by author, subject or shelf. Choose an understandable criterion also to those who will help you in the new home. If two bookstores are placed in different rooms, give them separate codes from the beginning, avoiding mixing volumes only to finish a box.
Limit the weight of individual packages
Use suitable containers to load and not automatically fill a large box of only books. A seemingly ordered neck may be inconvenience to move. Check the characteristics of the cardboard and agree any special needs with the team, without assuming that all the containers have the same resistance.
Place the volumes in a stable way, without bending covers or compressing the backs. Avoid small books in the spaces left by others much larger. If they remain empty, stabilize the content with suitable material; do not accidentally add heavy or metallic objects that can mark the covers.
Treat separately albums and delicate volumes
Photo albums, art books and large-format volumes deserve a specific preparation. Check that any cases are complete and that there are no loose elements between the pages. Important bookmarks, photos and documents found during the reorder should be stored separately in an identified envelope.
For valuable materials or affective value, ask for an evaluation before the packing. Do not apply tapes directly on the covers and do not use dirty or wet protectors. Even the place where they wait for the retreat counts: the boxes should not be left where they can get wet or hinder the passage.
Rebuild the library with a practical order
On the label indicates room, library and content group, for example study, bookcase A, narrative. If you photographed the shelves, connect the boxes numbers to the pictures. This small index avoids opening each carton to find useful material at work or study.
At delivery, leave the spaces necessary for the installation and positioning of the furniture free. Books settle after the library is ready and any stability checks have been completed. Open a few necks at a time, check the content and immediately collect the protection material, keeping free paths and an orderly surface to work on.