Choosing a first picture book for a three-year-old
Short text, big pictures and something to point at: what to look for, and what to skip.
How to look after old books
Keep them upright, away from the sun and the bathroom wall, and let them breathe in the monsoon.
Most damage to old books in Kolkata comes from damp, not age. Paper takes in moisture through the monsoon and brown spots, called foxing, appear on the first and last pages. A shelf on an inside wall, away from the bathroom and the kitchen, is the simplest protection.
Stand books upright and not too tightly packed, so air can move between them. Large volumes should lie flat. Keep them out of direct sunlight, which fades spines within a single summer.
Once a month during the monsoon, take a few books off the shelf, open them and let them air for an hour under a fan. A muslin bag of neem leaves or a few cloves on the shelf helps keep silverfish away. Avoid naphthalene, which stains paper over time.
If a book is already damp, do not dry it in the sun. Stand it open like a fan in a dry room. For a valuable book with mould, bring it to us; we can tell you whether it is worth sending to a conservator.
