Unless your garage isn’t subject to high temperatures, and is well-ventilated, pest-free, and humidity-free, you’ll want to store your books somewhere else. This also goes for magazines, photo albums, and other paper goods. “Changes in humidity will make paper fibers swell and contract, resulting in wildly curled pages and warped spines,” Gordon says. “If it’s a garage in a humid climate, you’ll get mold speckles as well. Books are much more susceptible to pests like silverfish, spiders, and rodents when left in a garage, so it’s best to keep them stored upright indoors.”
Much like books, magazines, and photos, cardboard boxes will also become less sturdy over time because of humidity. Instead, keep anything you are storing in the garage in waterproof plastic containers, which will seal tighter and last longer.