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Where to Find Books

2 min read

Public libraries are the best source of books, followed by school and university libraries, bookstores, the homes of professionals such as doctors, engineers and farmers, government offices, and military installations. Libraries keep reference sections of encyclopedias, atlases, medical references and technical manuals, organised by subject. Search abandoned or damaged premises only, and check the building before you enter.

Part of Collection & Preservation

Books are spread across a town in predictable places, and the specialist collections sit where specialists worked.

Match The Source To The Shelf You Need

  • Public libraries. The obvious source and the best, with a large number of volumes organised by subject. Reference sections, which do not circulate, hold encyclopedias, atlases, medical references and technical manuals.
  • School and university libraries. Textbooks, technical references and laboratory manuals. University libraries have specialist collections in every field.
  • Bookstores. New and used. Used bookstores often hold older editions with practical knowledge that newer ones replaced with theory.
  • Homes. Bookshelves, home offices and garages with do-it-yourself manuals. Homes of doctors, engineers and farmers hold specialist references.
  • Government offices. Agricultural extension offices hold agricultural bulletins, building departments hold construction codes, and health departments hold public-health manuals.
  • Military installations. Field manuals cover first aid, bridge building and radio operation, written as step-by-step illustrated guides for young soldiers.

Method: Searching A Source

Step 1: Check the building. See Competition & Risk Assessment. Water-damaged buildings are the norm for books.

Step 2: Go to the reference section first. It holds the books that do not circulate.

Step 3: Take by tier. Survival and medical first, then agriculture and building, then the long-term shelf. See Library & Bookstore Priorities.

Step 4: Check condition. Leave books that are soaked or mouldy.

Step 5: Bring dry containers. Carry books out in sealed bags or bins.

Common Mistakes

  • Emptying the fiction shelves first. They are heavy and less urgent.
  • Overlooking offices and military sites. They hold the most practical manuals.
  • Carrying books out in the rain.

Safety

Water-damaged libraries are unstable and mouldy

Floors weakened by water, collapsed shelving and heavy loads of wet paper are dangers, and mould spores irritate the lungs. Check floors, stay clear of leaning shelves, and wear a mask in any room with visible mould.

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