Anyone who has owned books knows the frustration of a bent cover, torn page, or crushed dust jacket.
You’ve probably also known the pain of trying to avoid all that damage while moving your books from one house to another.
You are reading: How to pack books
all those folded pages, tiresome trips to and from the truck, and the chaos of keeping everything protected, there has to be a better way.
You’re right: there is a better way. you’re using our step-by-step guide on the best way to pack books for the move.
1. optimize your collection
first things first: do you really need all these books?
It can be tempting to hold onto every book in your collection, but selecting a good library means knowing when to let some stories go.
go through your books and decide which ones to take with you and which ones to leave behind. start early and take your time – you don’t want to rush your decision.
what to do with the books you don’t take
Once you’ve finished and decided which books will find a new home, you have several options.
- You could have a garage sale (season and weather permitting). Yard sales are a great way to earn a little extra money before you move and get rid of a lot of the stuff you don’t bring to your new home.
- Invite your friends to buy a booklet party. let them go through the stack of books you’re not taking and see if they want any for their own collections. The best thing about this is that the books “still belong in the family”, and hopefully your friends will be kind enough to let you borrow a book from time to time.
- donate your books. this is a great way to make sure your books find new homes.
where can I donate books?
You can donate books at the following places in Ottawa:
- the ottawa public library: if you have two or fewer small boxes of books, you can drop them off at any ottawa public library branch. You can also leave them in the bookstores that are friends of the public library association (FOPLA). For larger donations, you will need to make an appointment with Fopla at their distribution center. see details here >
- st. Joe’s Women’s Center: The center has a wish list of donation items on its website that includes children’s books, novels, and nonfiction books. see details here >
- saint vincent de paul: this ottawa-based charity operates several thrift stores around the city and is always looking for book donations. see details here >
2. pack your books early
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Books take a long time to pack, mainly because it involves multiple quality boxes, careful placement, and the occasional reading break. this is not one of those things you can leave for the last minute.
When developing your packing plan, we recommend that you make your books a top priority. you may have to deal with a small stack of boxes for a while, but at least they’re ready.
3. group your books by size
Next, it’s time to decide which books will travel to your new home together.
The more books you have, the more you’ll notice how many different sizes they come in. adds visual appeal to your bookshelf, but is a pain when playing packing tetris.
This is why we recommend that you first organize your books by size. by putting them all together before you start packing, you’ll have a much better idea of how everything will fit together.
4. use small boxes that will keep the weight down
a book is easy to carry. 30-50 books? not so much.
no matter how many books you have, it will be heavy to move them.
The best way to pack books for the move is to use small boxes that keep the weight under 40 pounds. this will make your books easier and safer to move.
make sure the boxes are strong, well sealed and lined with packing paper
The boxes you receive should be made of thick cardboard and very resistant on the sides and corners. While we love to reuse boxes whenever we can, you don’t want to use a book box that looks like it’s seen better days.
When you’ve made sure the box will be strong enough for the books, add additional tape to the bottom where the seam forms. this adds extra sealing power and protects your books from any liquids or dirt.
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Finally, line all book boxes with a couple layers of packing paper or newspaper. this adds a little extra cushioning and is just one more way to protect your books.
where do i get small boxes?
There are several ways to get the boxes you need.
- you can get them from us. we sell a variety of boxes, including a 2 cu. ft. box, perfect for books, and deliver right to your door, making it the most convenient option.
- ask at local stores. any store you get things shipped to will have boxes for at least a day or two after the shipment arrives. who knows, even your local bookstore may have exactly what you need.
- check at work. your boss or co-workers may have received deliveries or supplies, and the boxes could be sitting unused in a spare closet.
- reach out to community groups on social media. Facebook is full of local groups, and you can contact them to order moving supplies in good condition. someone has probably moved recently and still has a bunch of boxes.
5. use your suitcases with wheels
We often think of our rolling luggage as clothing racks covered in old airport tags, but did you know they make great containers for transporting books?
They’re sturdy, have plenty of room, and come on wheels for easy transport to and from the moving truck.
We know: it almost sounds too good to be true.
but it’s not! just be sure to use the tips below for both suitcases and boxes, and you’ll be rolling in no time.
6. pack your books by weight
some books are heavier than others. we’re watching you, 800-page hardcover novel.
You’ve already organized your books by size: now it’s time to pack them by weight.
put heavy books on the bottom, medium weight books in the middle, and light books on top.
This will prevent your most delicate books from getting crushed.
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