Contact the collection owner to determine which books to display. Arrange a time to appraise the condition of each book. Insure any valuable books.
Check the physical condition of each book. The binding should be intact and pages bound. Delicate historical books should not be displayed. Photos of significant pages can be duplicated.
Store each historical book in a dust-proof box. Lay each box flat rather than upright. Be sure to have foam wedges for small books as well as large ones to prop them and support the spine.
Prepare an abstract for each book. The abstract should be short and clear. Explain the most important aspect of the book and its current relevance.
Secure the location, duration and hours for the exhibit. Hire or recruit volunteers needed for the hours of operation. Market the exhibit in advance by sending fliers and invitations to schools.
Check the exhibition room to ensure that it is not humid or it could damage the historical books. Ask that the cleaning crew not use strong cleaning chemicals around the books.
Display the books on a flat, clean surface. Books with a delicate spine should be propped up by foam wedges and handled only by staff.
Place the abstract at the right bottom corner by each book. Make sure the font is large enough for people to read clearly.
Store the most fragile books at the end of each day in a dust-proof box. All other books should be closed and laid flat until the next exhibition day.