Your Books as a Collection -- How to Buy Books -- Shelving and Storing Books -- Conditions for Books -- Common Conservation Issues -- Ordering and Listing Your Books -- Leaving Your Mark -- Special Finishes for Special Books -- Getting Rid of Books

"Have you ever wondered whether the assortment of books you have at home is a "collection"? Do you want to reorganize it? Expand it? Repair some of your treasured volumes? This quirky but practical guide covers questions book lovers might have about caring for their books at home. Written by an expert rare book librarian at the Bodleian Library and covering a range of subjects including collecting, arranging, and keeping books in good condition, Looking After Your Books offers friendly advice that will guide readers through all aspects of book ownership. Within these pages, readers will find useful tips on buying from book fairs, bookshops, and dealers, as well as how to identify first editions. Help is on hand with treating accidental mishaps and a range of common problems such as an attack of red rot or a broken spine. There are also chapters on shelving, how to keep track of your books, how to commission a special box for a special book, and how to pass books on usefully." -Dust jacket