Are wood bookshelves okay to use?

When purchasing new shelving, metal shelves (Northeast Document Conservation Center) are preferable over wood shelves because the acids present in wood can migrate into paper and books and cause deterioration.

Existing wood shelves that cannot be replaced can be lined with a barrier such as polyester film, corrugated polyethylene or polypropylene board, metal foil laminate, acrylic sheet, or glass, to prevent books from coming into direct contact with the wood.


Last Updated: Mar 02, 2021
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