Nabil asks:
Why don’t you wear gloves when handling old books?
The conservation social media-sphere was recently abuzz around a New York Times article* on the subject of handling rare books without gloves, and it informed readers what rare book librarians, preservation specialists, and conservators already know: there’s “no love for white gloves.” While many folks have written thoughtful articles and posts about why (and some of those are linked above and below), here’s the summary:
- Gloves, especially cotton gloves, decrease dexterity and haptic feedback. Your fingertips are capable of synthesizing a ton of information about the condition of the item you’re handling, and that information is lost when a layer of cotton separates your hand from the item. The seams on glove fingertips can catch on page edges; the loose fibers of cotton can get lodged in (and worsen) micro-tears in the paper. Books become slippery when held in cotton-gloved hands, leading to increased chances of dropping them.
- Gloves can transfer dirt. The point of gloves is ostensibly to keep the books clean, but cotton is quite absorbent. It can pick up dust, dirt, and fragile pigments from other surfaces and easily transfer them to books. If your hands sweat while wearing the gloves, that moisture is transferred through the cotton and into the books.
- Nitrile gloves are not the answer, either. There’s still a loss of tactility, and nitrile is much grippier than skin – leading to unintentional damage when you unexpectedly hulk out on a page you thought you were turning delicately.
The use of white gloves for handling rare objects likely arose from popular media depictions in the late 20th century. White gloves imply high status, rarity, and value, and their use signifies that the article being handled is worthy of being handled that way. Unfortunately, it’s just preservation theater.
So what’s the best way to handle rare books? Clean, dry hands. Avoid using hand lotion. If handwashing facilities aren’t available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer and then dry your hands thoroughly with paper towels. (Alcohol residues from hand sanitizers have been shown to discolor and cockle paper, and disturb surface coatings on book cloths and coated papers.)
There are of course exceptions to every rule. Most photographs are susceptible to damage from skin oils. Metal objects are also prone to this damage, with oxidation occurring from contact with the moisture in our hands and the oxygen all around. Some folks experience skin issues that can be exacerbated by frequent handwashing. Wear nitrile gloves in these situations (including when handling books with metal book furniture!) – and when in doubt, consult a conservator.
More resources
Should I wear white cotton gloves to handle rare books?, by Cathleen A. Baker and Randy Silverman, republished on Peachey Conservation
Cotton gloves and old books? No way, from Book Historia’s Bite-sized Book History series (video)
White gloves or not white gloves, from the British Library Medieval Manuscripts Blog (with video)
*Iowa State University students, staff, and faculty have free digital access to The New York Times through the library. Check out this LibAnswer for help setting it up: https://iastate.libanswers.com/faq/224425
Library and Archives Preservation 