Why books need their own method
Books are heavier than they look. A large carton full of books can get so heavy that the bottom gives way while carrying, or the books at the bottom bend and their corners get damaged. Owners also usually arrange their books a certain way — by subject, author or series — and want to find them in the same order after the move. This page is for moving a home library, a majlis library or a small office library, within the Eastern Province or to another city.
If the library is part of a whole-home move, see also residential movers.
The right cartons for books
| Type of book | Carton | How we pack |
|---|---|---|
| Standard-size books | Small reinforced carton | Flat or upright, gaps filled with paper |
| Large volumes and encyclopaedias | Small double-wall carton | Flat, heaviest at the bottom, few per carton |
| Qurans and religious books | A separate clean carton | Wrapped in clean cloth or paper, placed on top away from heavy items, with respectful labelling |
| Old or rare books | Carton with a bubble-wrap layer | Each book wrapped individually; nothing stacked on top |
The simple rule: books in small cartons, light items like pillows in large ones.
Keeping shelf order
- We photograph each shelf before emptying it if you wish, so you can restore the order.
- Each bookcase gets a letter (A, B, C) and each shelf a number.
- Cartons are labelled "Unit A – Shelf 3", not just "books".
- Books from one shelf stay in one carton or consecutive cartons wherever possible.
- At the new home, cartons are placed next to their bookcase for easy refilling.
If you want us to put the books back on the shelves, tell us in advance; many owners prefer to do that themselves.
Dismantling and assembling bookcases
Large wooden bookcases may be one piece, modular units or wall-mounted shelves. Before the date we ask for a photo:
- Freestanding units: emptied, then shelves and glass doors removed and packed, with glass packed separately.
- Tall units anchored to the wall for safety: we remove the anchor and refit it at the new home if the wall is suitable.
- Wall-hung shelves: taken down with parts kept together; drilling and fixing in the new wall is agreed with you case by case.
More on the service at furniture assembly.
Humidity and storing books
Paper suffers in the high humidity of Dammam, Khobar, Qatif and Jubail. If your new home is not ready and the library goes into storage for a while, do not seal cartons in plastic; keep them off the floor and away from outside walls and air-conditioning units that might leak. See furniture storage. On arrival, open the cartons of old books first.
Packing the books yourself
Some book lovers prefer to pack their own collection because they know the value of each title. That is fine, and we can supply suitable cartons. A few tips:
- If a small carton feels heavy to you, it is heavy for its base too — take some out.
- Lay large books flat; stand medium books upright on their spine or flat, never on the open edge.
- Fill gaps with crumpled paper so nothing shifts.
- Write the unit and shelf number on two sides, not just the lid.
We then dismantle, move and reassemble the bookcases.
What affects the cost of moving a library?
- Approximate number of books or shelves, and therefore cartons.
- Whether we pack the books or you do.
- How many bookcases need dismantling and assembly.
- Floors and lifts at both homes.
- Distance: within one city or to another city — see our intercity movers page.
We do not publish fixed prices; one photo per bookcase is usually enough for a quote.
Get a quote for your library move
Send photos of the bookcases, the approximate number of shelves and both cities, and we will send a clear quote.