I saw on the antiques roadshow this week (I think it was a re-run) that you shouldn't oil wood because the oil oxidizes and turns the wood black and it's not reversible. Just parroting that, though. I don't have first hand experience and I myself am wondering how to preserve wood.
I think climate is important, though. Wood likes the same temperature and humidity ranges as people do. Not too hot, not too cold, not too dry and not too humid. Hard to control the climate, though. Plus, I think expansion and contraction would hinder the glue's ability to hold on to the veneer. Expansion and contraction are caused by temperature fluctuation.