Library Bookbinding

ons as to ways in which he wishes different classes of books bound. If he has employed a binder who thoroughly understands library binding, he may make use of the binder's knowledge in dr

to specifications. Therefore, a definite legal contract is not necessary. The librarian, except in the case of a few libraries which according to law must give thei

okmaking which seem to become poorer and poorer with each succeeding year, and the kind of a library which is to use the specifications-all these must be taken into consideration when specifications are drawn up. Moreo

ibraries which do not issue books for home use. It has seemed best to place first general specifications which apply to all books, followed by addi

SPECIF

st or injured. When one considers the large number of volumes passing through a bindery, coming from many

o the specifications. Since he has submitted the specifications and th

ation if it is desirable in the interests of good binding

ng to a schedule of prices agreed

on, so that binders would be sure to trim the book as little as possible. It is the universal custom, however, to pay according to the measure of the book with the

e of prices may be charged for at the r

linen thread, suiting the size of the thread to the requirements of the

ound in half-leather or half-duck. Never use m

the Bureau of Standards, or Imperial morocco cloth, must be used for full b

e a twisted, double

t be guaranteed by the manuf

of binders' or flexible glue

ls of any kind m

glue, paste, back-lining, paper,

ing of torn pages and guarding of weak signatures, but shou

binder and imperfect books returned to the lib

n single leaves must be guarded with thin, tough pape

rong enough for ordinary books. Folded plates should never be sewed through the middle of the fold, but should be mounted on guards so that the plates will open out nearly flat when the book is opened. Folded maps, o

ould be carefully cut and mounted on thin cloth in such a way as to

sewing-machine) or old-fashioned whipstitching, is not permi

es must be used for eight-inch b

g must project at least an inch and

bed in the chapter on Processes, except in a few cases where it may be

leaves and end papers must

e trimmed as lit

should have ro

s must have

finally into the covers by pasting down end papers. Tight-

loose-back unless

specifies gilding on top. The color used may be

be pressed unti

f each book, whether periodical

is record, unless the librarian has specified a different material, or different lettering. In such a case the matter must be referred to the librarian before the book is bound. If a binder receives a book with a volume numb

pockets and book-plates when furnished by th

ing unless cover is light enough in color to

AND JUVE

the objections come chiefly from the large steel towns where the sulphur in the air has a bad effect on leathers. In most communities leather will outwear cloth and in any event cloth

ons as outlined above, sup

hide (American russia). Roan may be used

white book paper, 70 pounds to t

nd not tipped on as is done in ordinary binding. Since practically all fiction and juvenile books

should be equal in strength to an 80-pound manila paper and should be gua

the first and last sections

d be sewed with some mode

ough the signatures either on bands or on tapes, but the number is so small that the binder finds it easier to sew all the books alike. In any event o

footnote

-FI

ld be bound i

injured, or which cannot be easily mended may

the preceding specifica

IOD

usiastic librarian who wishes to answer all questions will be tempted to bind more periodicals than are really needed, thus impairing the efficiency of the book fund. On the other hand, to some the cost of binding may seem so great that some useful periodicals will remain unbound. But it is not

eral specification

e book paper, 80 pounds to the ream,

der, but it is wise to have a 100-pound manila guarded with

sections must be g

s or on tapes one-quarter of an inch wide; larger volumes on five b

as the weight of the boo

ns of the Bureau of Standards. As light colors, which may be lettered in ink,

d be a mistake to bind such volumes in cloth, because no cloth will endure the wear that they receive. They

ides should be covered with

SPA

any except the local paper, which will be used from time to time for local history. In many cases it may be wiser simply to wrap the volumes to protect them from the light and file them chronologically. The librarian of the large library, however,

If possible, keep in a dark closet until ready for binding.

be bound in one-hal

er. Duck, to be sure, gathers dirt easily, but it seems to be the on

be made of extra heavy paper well

s lengthwise before sewing regularly o

best, perhaps, to make the boards by gluing or p

ld be covered w

backs mus

t be covered

normously the labor in shelving them and even of using them on ordinary library tables. In librari

ling preservative on the edges. (See page 116 of the B

ENCE

the Specifications of the Bureau of Standards. Very heavy, thick volumes, such as dictionaries, should have all the strengthening devices and especially should have the bands and canton flannel on the back placed in split boards or betwee

BO

erly customary to bind all law books in full sheep of the natural color. When sheep fell into disrepute, the law p

eral specification

d with jaconet, as described in specificati

sections must be g

be backed with muslin and

t shade made), or Holliston Mills Library

hould be bound in half Turk

U

lie flat wherever opened. It is unwise therefore to use any kind of an overc

be greater than at the top so that leaves wil

ing. If hard usage is expected half cowhide, with

for the part which takes the most space, with pocket on the inside of the back cover to hold th

F ILLUS

le text and a great number of illustrations. It is evident that the illustrations in such books are most useful if ke

arded with thin, tough pap

orms a hinge where it meets the plate and the plate will l

they should be bound in one-half morocco, taking

split boards. If the book is very heavy, it would be wise to lin

INDING FOR R

heavy reference books, such as dictionaries, cyclopedias, etc. It is done with the hope that librarians will exert pre

ontain as many stitches as possible, using the best four-strand cotton thread. The thickness of the thread will depend somewh

fold with a strip of strong, thin muslin which passes around the outside of

to the last should be reinforced wi

should also be l

arded with muslin which is fo

side to the back and extending from one-half inch from the head to within one-h

th the tapes, should be ins

asted a good quality of linen, rope or manila paper of sufficient thickness to mak

hould have F

d of suitable thickness with

ications of the London Society of Arts. Niger morocco is probabl

morocco cloth, Bancroft's Legal buckram, or