AboutJan Hayner Expertise I can answer any questions on Home organizing, file and paper management, organizing for parents, kids, senior citizens and on housekeeping and cleaning solutions.
Experience I have been a Professional Organizer for 9 years, I am considered an expert in my field on the internet and have written several informational books on organizing.
Organizations I am an active member of Faithful Organizers (An International Association of Christian based Professional Organizers, a past member of NAPO (the National Association of Professional Organizers)a member of an association called Women in Management, a member of Money Smart Wisconsin-Sheboygan and was a business owner for over 25 years.
Education/Credentials A high school graduated a the rest of my learning capablilities came from making a lot of mistakes in my lifetime and learning from all of them.
Question My daughter is almost 11 and has, I would guess easily, thousands of dollars of books. It's something we've boughten for her since she was a baby through chapter books now. I hate to sell them or give them away. Is it feasible to try to save all these books for her when she has kids? If so, how should I store them for 15+ years.
Answer Hi Carla;
Well, let me see, at that time of her life, the book would be a collectible and you wouldn't want anyone to touch it because it would be of value. Also, if you wait until it is about 50 years old it would be a collectible/antiques/classic and will be worth even more money.
Now, it is hard to say which books will be worth money and which ones won't.
You can be guaranteed that first edition books and books that don't have a lot in print will be worth more than others.
However, it never fails, the ones that you think are the most valuable, usually aren't. I dealt in antiques and collectibles for many years and have a good idea of paper goods.
Now, the trick is, how you can save them without losing there color, getting dented or stained.
My advice on this one is to surf the net before you do anything.
There are new tips and ideas for preserving paper all of the time and it is a wise person that heeds the warnings.
Acid free paper is a clue and possibly putting them in a frame to keep them air free. Which does get costly. However, you can leave them on a book shelf and take your chances too.
My thought would be to pick out the ones that she would have you read and read and read. These would have been her favorites and the memories of that book for you and her would be saved in more ways than one.
I hope this gave you a little insight and help in answering your question.
Jan Hayner----happy reading and reliving memories
