Heat Takeover: Books Bear the Brunt of Sweltering Weather
Books are struggling to withstand the high temperatures.
A number of paperbacks at a Brooklyn bookstore were seen distorting this week as the city roasted in a sticky heatwave, as shown in recent dramatic images.
The metropolitan region has experienced stifling conditions, with elevated humidity levels and a heat index surpassing 90 degrees over the past week, leaving a series of unfortunate impacts.
At McNally Jackson’s City Point branch, multiple paperback titles were left sprawled open, with several covers nearly peeling off entirely.
According to Rebecca Fifield, associate director of collection management at the New York Public Library, such occurrences are not uncommon.
“Books are hygroscopic,” Fifield stated, explaining that this term refers to materials that absorb and release moisture. “The heat combined with high humidity creates the right conditions for this to happen.”
Fifield noted that while the curling of book pages might be visually unappealing, more serious issues such as mold and insect infestations pose greater threats.
Mold can easily develop unnoticed in damp books, creating ideal conditions for pests like silverfish, which feed on the paper’s decorative elements and cellulose fibers.
To ward off these potential infestations, preservationists at the NYPL and other establishments closely monitor airflow, according to Fifield.
For instance, the library maintains its special collections at a stable 60 degrees, with humidity kept between 35% and 55%.
Such controlled conditions not only inhibit decay but also help preserve classic and original texts for a longer duration.
“With reduced moisture levels, insects are less likely to thrive, and mold growth is minimized,” Fifield added.
Fortunately, any curled books are expected to return to their former shapes once humidity levels decrease, although some pages may retain slight wrinkles.
It remains uncertain whether McNally Jackson encountered airflow issues this week, as the bookstore chain did not respond to inquiries.
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