How To Easily Move Books
They may not weigh as much as large furniture pieces, nor do they have awkward shapes, but moving books can still prove challenging.
If certain precautions are not taken, moisture may enter the container, damaging or even ruining them. There’s also an inherit risk of damage from the bottom of boxes giving out, sending your books crashing to the ground below.
Whether you have an entire library worth of books or just a couple classic novels, you should follow the tips listed here to ensure they arrive at your destination safely and without damage.
Donate
You can make the task of moving a little easier by donating some of your books beforehand. If you have school textbooks or other books that aren’t being used (and probably never will), take them to your local library.
Most libraries will gladly accept book donations, making the load a little lighter. Alternatively, you can perform a Google search for “donate books” to find several online companies that accept book donations.
Choose Heavy-Duty Boxes
If you’re going to move your books by placing them in cardboard boxes, choose boxes that have reinforced bottoms so they won’t fall out. There’s nothing more frustrating than having the bottom give out when you’re carrying a book-filled box.
And if you don’t have access to heavy-duty cardboard boxes, lighten the load by filling it half with books and the other half with pillows, blankets, comforters, or other light items.
Plastic Containers
It’s generally best to move books via plastic containers instead of cardboard boxes. While they cost a bit more than traditional cardboard boxes, plastic containers are stronger, more durable, and they offer protection from moisture and water – a huge benefit when moving books.
Media Mail
The United States Parcel Service (USPS) offers a special shipping option designed specifically for books and educational materials. Known as Media Mail, it’s cheaper than priority and first-class, so you may want to ship your books to your new home rather than moving them yourself.
There are some stipulations to Media Mail, one of which being that any shipped items must not contain advertising, video games, USB flash drives, or computer drives of any kind.
Assuming the books are ad-free, however, you can ship them via Media Mail without worry. The USPS also places a 70-pound limit on all Media Mail packages, so double-check your boxes before taking them to the local post office.
Check out https://www.usps.com/ship/media-mail.htm to learn more about USPS Media Mail.
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