By Francesca Galligan

A quirky, indispensable resource packed with tips and advice on how to properly care for your books at home.

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.

With historical anecdotes and curious examples at every turn, Looking After Your Books is an indispensable resource and delight for anyone with an interest in books and their history.

Cover design by Dot Little
Book design by Lucy Morton

Published by Bodleian Library Publishing, 2025

Hardcover, 192 pages, b&w, 5.08 × 7.8 inches

ISBN: 978-1-85-124627-4