How to Prevent Excess Moisture with Stored Paper Rolls

Grating shelves

Large, flat trays

Silica gel

De-humidifier

Choose an area of the building based on moisture. Avoid areas where there is poor ventilation or few windows, and choose areas with higher elevation, if possible. Keep the paper roles in an area where air moves freely and look for a room that you know to be on the dry side, if possible. Keep the people on shelves that are close to the floor or close to any areas where moisture is likely, such as plumbing pipes, roofs that may leak or sinks.

Store the paper on metal, grating shelves. This will allow the most air flow around the paper rolls on all sides. If grating shelves are not available, try to use metal or plastic shelves and avoid shelving that's likely to absorb moisture itself, like wood (especially unfinished wood).

Leave paper wrapped in plastic, if the plastic covers the paper completely and seals it off from the surrounding air. If not, remove the plastic so that it won't trap humidity inside.

Position a tray of library drying compound on the shelf beneath the paper rolls. This may consist of beads made of either silica gel or other similar, proprietary products designed for the purpose of absorbing ambient moisture and keeping the air in the surrounding area dry.

Keep a de-humidifier in the room. This machine is one of the most reliable means of keeping the air in the room dry. Purchase a de-humidifier according to the needs of your space, ensuring that the machine you buy is large enough for the room in which you store your paper rolls.