2015 Reading Challenge [Closed] discussion

What is the best way to move a lot of books from one location to another without damaging the books? I've moved with basic cardboard boxes before but found them difficult to pack, often too heavy, and occasionally damaging to spines and pages.

keep them in brief cases....works best for me...

I know UPS makes boxes specific for books. I think the main idea of theirs is that they're smaller so you can only put in so many. It would then spread the books out between more boxes.

If you're packing other things for the same room (assuming you pack by room), you could also mix the books in with other stuff, like "knick knacks".

I've had very good luck with bankers boxes. They are small enough not to get heavy and have handles which make them easy to carry.

I line cardboard boxes with bed linen or towels, treat them like they are plates and wrap them up well.

I use cardboard boxes as well but I don't stack them up to the top anymore. (No one could lift that box!) So I generally fill it about half way and then throw blankets and yarn and other soft things in on top of them. Sometimes I put DVDs on top because they're significantly lighter. Nothing that's going to wreck them and that is light enough to keep them manageable. I've never had trouble or damage with boxes, and that's saying something considering that box no one could lift I pushed down a flight of stairs to get it to my room. Like literally stood at the top and watched it go... everything came out good. I did pack it right tight so there was no room to jostle anything though, if it can't move there's no way for pages to bend or spines to get damaged.

Thanks, everyone. I've finally got my move orders and am starting to pack. Thankfully I'm moving less than 1/2 mile away from my current place, but I always get worrisome when I move books. When I moved up to Alaska nearly a year ago (4,500 miles from where I was), I gave away most of my books so I wouldn't have to move them and worry about them. That was hard. I think the only thing that would hurt to give up like that for a move would be my cats or dog.

Since I've been here I've started rebuilding my library, and refuse to give it up, especially for such a short move. I just picked up some bankers boxes tonight, and am planning to do that, along with letting the boxes share the space with soft and gentle things.

You guys are awesome! Thanks for the suggestions.