Books weigh more than you expect
Many people fill a large carton with books because it fits. The result is a box nobody can lift, a bottom that tears on the first pick-up and a mover with a sore back. Books, files and binders are among the heaviest things you can put in a carton, so the first rule is simple: small or medium boxes, filled only until one person can carry them without strain.
Al-Forsan moves home libraries, office libraries, archives and files, and each has its own logic. A home library has sentimental and intellectual value. A researcher's or student's library is valuable for its order. A company archive is valuable for its order and its confidentiality. If you are moving a whole office with furniture, read office and corporate moving. If you only want to store your books for a while, see furniture storage in Jeddah.
What this service covers
- A home library: wooden or metal shelves full of books, magazines and albums.
- A researcher's or student's library: reference books, textbooks and papers with a particular order.
- A mosque, school or community library: many volumes, sometimes catalogued.
- A company archive: files, documents and financial or administrative records.
- A clinic or law office archive: sensitive files that need discretion.
- A collector's books: rare volumes that deserve slower, more careful handling.
The golden rule of packing: weight, not volume
We recommend:
- Use small cartons for large heavy books and medium cartons for small ones.
- Place the big books at the bottom and lighter ones on top, laid flat or upright so nothing can slide.
- Fill gaps with crumpled paper so the contents do not shift.
- Seal the carton with strong tape on both the bottom and the top; do not trust the flaps alone.
- Write on each box the room, the shelf number, a general content label such as novels, religion or history, and the word heavy.
- Do not overfill so the lid bulges.
Keeping the library in order
The most frequent complaint after moving a library is that the order is lost. To avoid this, number the shelves from top to bottom and from right to left, then number the cartons to match the shelf. Photograph every shelf before emptying it. For catalogued libraries or archives, keep the index separately and make sure cartons are numbered in sequence. If you want to restore the same layout in the new place, prepare a simple plan of the new shelves before the boxes arrive.
Bookcases and wooden shelves: dismantling and reassembly
Wooden bookcases are large and heavy and some are fixed to the wall. We take shelves apart once they are empty, number the parts and bag the screws on each piece. Ready-made bookcases made of boards are fragile at the edges, so we protect them with covers and corner guards. Glass-fronted cabinets need extra care; read glass and mirror wrapping for how we handle them. For general dismantling see furniture disassembly and assembly.
Jeddah humidity, dust and paper pests
Jeddah is a humid coastal city and paper reacts to humidity: stains, smells and curling, and sometimes silverfish in damp closed spaces. During a move we suggest:
- Do not move books on a rainy or very humid day without covering.
- Wrap cartons in plastic bags against a sudden shower during unloading.
- Open the cartons soon after arrival; do not leave them sealed for weeks in a damp place.
- Shelve books away from damp walls and AC outlets.
- If you notice mould or a musty smell, separate those books before it spreads.
Archives and sensitive documents
If you move papers that belong to your business or clients, confidentiality matters. We keep documents in closed boxes and do not read their contents, and we can seal cartons with tape and a stamp if you wish. We recommend that you or someone you authorise carries the most important originals, such as contracts and official papers, rather than leaving them in the truck. Keep a copy of the index outside the boxes. See also commercial office relocation tips.
High floors and lifts
Heavy cartons exhaust a crew on stairs, and in buildings without a lift the number of boxes and floors changes the time and cost. We ask about the lift, its size and whether moving is allowed at any hour, and sometimes suggest trolleys or straps. For tall buildings read high-rise and tower moving.
What we do not recommend moving
- Torn books and mouldy papers, which will deteriorate further.
- Duplicate copies you do not need; donate or sell them before the move.
- Expired documents that neither the law nor your work requires.
Lightening the load saves money and time and is a chance to reorganise. Extra books can be donated to neighbourhood, mosque and school libraries.
Price factors
We do not post fixed prices. Cost depends on the number of cartons and shelves, the floor and lift, whether bookcases need dismantling, packing, distance and date. Estimate the number of shelves or metres of books and send it with photos and we will give you a figure. See furniture moving prices for how we price.
How to start
Message us on WhatsApp with the kind of library or archive, the approximate number of shelves or metres, whether bookcases need dismantling, the floor and lift, a photo of the place and your preferred date. We reply with a short plan listing what you prepare and what we handle.
A suggested timeline for a large library
For a large library, do not leave everything to one day. A week or more before, take down and pack the books you do not use daily, so only frequently used volumes remain on the shelves. In the final days pack the remaining shelves and number everything. On moving day the crew dismantles empty shelves, loads the heavy cartons first so they sit at the bottom of the truck, then the shelves, and finally glass and artwork far from any pressure. On arrival the shelves come off first so they can be assembled, then the cartons in order. If the new place cannot hold everything, part of the load can wait in an adjoining room or in storage; see furniture storage.
Children's books, magazines and albums
These have their own needs. Children's books are light but numerous, magazines bend and tear easily, and old photo albums suffer from pressure and humidity. Pack them flat in shallow boxes with a clean sheet between layers and never stack heavy cartons on top. Large picture books should lie flat so covers do not warp. Wedding and graduation albums are best carried in your own car if you can.
When the library is built into the room
In some homes the library is an entire wall of fitted shelves, glass doors and concealed lighting. It may not be movable because it is part of the decor and cannot be removed without damage. Tell us before the date so it is clear what moves and what stays. Free-standing or flat-pack bookcases are another matter: we dismantle and move them carefully.
What you should carry yourself
Keep with you identity papers and original contracts, rare or irreplaceable books, manuscripts and personal diaries, and any drives or discs holding important data. Their value is greater than the cost of the risk, and having them with you brings peace of mind on a busy day.
Rebuilding the library after the move
A move is a rare chance to rethink the library. Instead of replacing everything as it was, ask which books you have not touched for years, whether some could be given away, and whether sorting by topic would serve you better than sorting by size. Put the most used books at eye level, heavy ones low, and rare ones in a closed cabinet away from sun and damp. Direct sunlight and an AC blowing at the shelves harm covers and paper over time.
Common mistakes
- Filling large cartons with books: they cannot be lifted and the bottom tears.
- Not numbering cartons: hours lost finding one title afterwards.
- Mixing types in one carton: the load gets heavy and hard to shelve.
- Leaving cartons in a damp entrance: the carton softens and the paper spoils.
- Moving sensitive documents unattended: never leave official papers unsupervised.
- Not checking shelves before dismantling: missing screws or cracked boards are found too late.
Counting boxes so you know everything arrived
In a library move the number of cartons is large and easy to lose track of. We suggest numbering each box in sequence with a total, for example "12 of 60", so a missing box is obvious. When loading ends we count the cartons with you or your representative, and on arrival we count again before unloading. If a number is missing tell us at once so we can search the truck and the old building. It is a simple method that gives great peace of mind when there are dozens of boxes.
Advice for students and researchers
A student moving mid-term needs textbooks and notes quickly, so do not leave them in the last box to be opened. Gather what you need over the coming weeks in a carton or bag you carry yourself and let the rest wait. A researcher with papers in a set order should use clearly numbered folders and photograph the contents page of each. Many researchers keep digital copies of their sources; a move is a good moment to confirm they are saved before the originals travel.
Frequently asked questions about moving books, libraries and archives
Do you move large wooden bookcases?
Yes. We dismantle the shelves, number them, wrap them and reassemble them in the new place, after measuring doors and corridors.
How can I keep my books in order?
Number shelves and cartons in sequence and photograph each shelf before you empty it. Write the shelf number and contents on each box.
Can you move confidential archives?
Yes. We keep boxes closed and do not read contents. We suggest you carry the most important originals yourself.
Does humidity damage books in transit?
It can if cartons are left open or in damp places. We wrap cartons and suggest opening them promptly after arrival.
How many books fit in one box?
We give no fixed number. The rule is that one person can lift the box comfortably.
Do you provide cartons?
Yes, as part of packing, or you can prepare them following our guidance.