Basic Hands-On Book Repair For Libraries – 2004 An Infopeople Workshop SPRING 2010 Instructor Margit J. Smith

This Workshop Is Brought to You By the Infopeople Project Infopeople is a federally-funded grant project supported by the California State Library. It provides a wide variety of training to California libraries. Infopeople workshops are offered around the state, and are open registration on a first-come first- served basis. For a complete list of workshops, and for other information about the Project, go to the Inopeople Web site at infopeople.org.

Introductions Name Name Library Library Position Position Any previous experience or training with book repair? Any previous experience or training with book repair? If so, what was it and did you enjoy it? If so, what was it and did you enjoy it?

Workshop Overview We will cover procedures and techniques suitable to repair of circulating collections in: Public librariesPublic libraries School LibrariesSchool Libraries College LibrariesCollege Libraries Procedures are not applicable to collections in: Special librariesSpecial libraries Special collectionsSpecial collections ArchivesArchives Rare book repositoriesRare book repositories Valuable historic collectionsValuable historic collections

Why Do In-House Repair? Lower cost than replacement Lower cost than replacement Faster turn-around Faster turn-around Extends life of collection Extends life of collection Prevents more expensive repairs and replacements Prevents more expensive repairs and replacements Improves the look of collection Improves the look of collection Leads by example Leads by example

Book Anatomy Quiz Hinge Hinge Spine Spine Cover Cover Joint Joint Head/Tail Head/Tail Fly Leaf/Free Leaf Fly Leaf/Free Leaf Fore Edge Fore Edge Boards Boards Text Block Text Block Gutter Gutter

More - Book Anatomy Quiz Crash/Mull/Cheesecloth Crash/Mull/Cheesecloth Buckram Buckram Headband/Tailband Headband/Tailband Plates Plates Cords Cords

Simple Repairs  Simple repairs with inexpensive materials: cleaningcleaning mendingmending tightening of hingestightening of hinges repairing cornersrepairing corners replacing torn spinesreplacing torn spines replacing endsheedsreplacing endsheeds

Advanced Repairs Advanced repairs requiring specialized materials and tools Advanced repairs requiring specialized materials and tools mending with Japanese tissuemending with Japanese tissue rebuilding spinerebuilding spine re-casing with new boardsre-casing with new boards constructing boxes and other enclosuresconstructing boxes and other enclosures

Commercial Repairs Library binding in commercial bindery: Library binding in commercial bindery: book block loose from covers and broken in one or several placesbook block loose from covers and broken in one or several places sections falling outsections falling out spine completely gonespine completely gone covers torn or partially missingcovers torn or partially missing

Conservation/Preservation Preservation includes Conservation and Restoration Preservation includes Conservation and Restoration Conservation stabilizes and strengthens materials for continued use Conservation stabilizes and strengthens materials for continued use Conservation by a trained professional Conservation by a trained professional re-housing re-housing reformatting reformatting de-acidifying de-acidifying repairing leather and vellum bindings repairing leather and vellum bindings extensive paper repairs extensive paper repairs

Restoration Working on materials to restore them as far as possible to their original state Working on materials to restore them as far as possible to their original state Keeping as much of the original matter as possible Keeping as much of the original matter as possible Use of materials and techniques contemporaneous with their original production Use of materials and techniques contemporaneous with their original production Needs extensive documentation Needs extensive documentation Needs lengthy training Needs lengthy training

When Making Repair Decisions Consider… Condition Condition Use and need Use and need Timeliness Timeliness Value: Value: provenanceprovenance bindingbinding plates/illustrationsplates/illustrations

Also Consider… Institutional policies Institutional policies Options available Options available Cost comparison Cost comparison Staff ability vs. professional treatment Staff ability vs. professional treatment

Tools Most are inexpensive Most are inexpensive Easily available Easily available Easy to use Easy to use Easy to replace Easy to replace

Materials Neutral pH, acid-free non-damaging materials and supplies Neutral pH, acid-free non-damaging materials and supplies PVA (Polyvinyl acetate) Jade PVA (Polyvinyl acetate) Jade Methyl cellulose or wheat starch paste Methyl cellulose or wheat starch paste Acid-free papers for endsheets Acid-free papers for endsheets  Sharp knives instead of scissors Mat knives/utility knives, scalpels Mat knives/utility knives, scalpels Starch-filled or impregnated buckram, grades C, D, F. Starch-filled or impregnated buckram, grades C, D, F. Brushes of various sizes Brushes of various sizes CleaningCleaning Applying adhesivesApplying adhesives Erasers Erasers Magic Rub, art gum, dry-cleaning powdersMagic Rub, art gum, dry-cleaning powders

Easy Repairs Cleaning Cleaning Repairing corners Repairing corners Only repair complete cornersOnly repair complete corners Repairing hinges Repairing hinges Two types of hinge repairsTwo types of hinge repairs

Exercise #1 Cleaning Covers and Pages

Exercise #2 Repairing Corners

Exercise #3 Repairing Hinges

Paper Importance of grain direction Importance of grain direction How to determine it How to determine it Cutting paper Cutting paper

Exercise #4 Determining Paper Grain

Exercise #5 Repairing Tears

Exercise #6 Replacing End-sheets

Exercise #7 Reattaching book block

Replacing Pages/Spines Tipping in pages Tipping in pages singles and multiplessingles and multiples Replacing spines Replacing spines With new spine overlapping on boardsWith new spine overlapping on boards

Exercise #8 Tipping in Pages

Repairing Spines Repairs with adhesive book cloth Repairs with adhesive book cloth Repairs with clear adhesive Repairs with clear adhesive Repairs with new spine overlapping cover cloth Repairs with new spine overlapping cover cloth Repairs with new spine under cover cloth (advanced) Repairs with new spine under cover cloth (advanced)

Exercise #9 Replacing Spines

Collection Care Monitor humidity and temperature Monitor humidity and temperature Use proper shelving and bookends Use proper shelving and bookends Keep environment clean and dry Keep environment clean and dry Train workers in basic sound handling of materials Train workers in basic sound handling of materials Formulate food and drink policy, then publicize it to users Formulate food and drink policy, then publicize it to users Use security system Use security system

More Collection Care Inspect building for structural damage Inspect building for structural damage Develop a Disaster Plan Manual Develop a Disaster Plan Manual Conduct Disaster Plan reviews regularly Conduct Disaster Plan reviews regularly Monitor for mold Monitor for mold Monitor for insects Monitor for insects

Setting up a Work Space Setting up a Work Space For a successful in-house repair station you need: For a successful in-house repair station you need: large work tablelarge work table easy access to watereasy access to water storage shelvesstorage shelves lightlight staff member trained in simple book repairstaff member trained in simple book repair

Workflow Ideas Identify problems Identify problems Round up the damaged books Round up the damaged books Communicate about damage Communicate about damage Review candidates for repair and perform triage Review candidates for repair and perform triage Work in batches Work in batches Document completed repairs Document completed repairs

Recommendations Order supplies from reliable sources Order supplies from reliable sources Get samples before ordering large quantities Get samples before ordering large quantities Buy the best quality you can Buy the best quality you can Buy in larger quantities for best prices or batch order with other libraries Buy in larger quantities for best prices or batch order with other libraries Keep all equipment and tools clean and sharp Keep all equipment and tools clean and sharp

More Recommendations Always clean up your work area when finished for the day Always clean up your work area when finished for the day Develop book repair policies and procedures Develop book repair policies and procedures Train staff who are interested in book repair and who have some manual dexterity Train staff who are interested in book repair and who have some manual dexterity Integrate book repair activities into department’s responsibilities Integrate book repair activities into department’s responsibilities

HAVE FUN! Be patient with yourself while learning Be patient with yourself while learning It gets easier the more you do it It gets easier the more you do itAND The books and your users will thank you! The books and your users will thank you!

Acknowledgements and Thanks Illustrations in the handouts are from the following sources: Artemis BonaDea. Conservation Book Repair: A Training Manual Carol Dyal, Pete Merrill-Oldham. Three Basic Book Repair Procedures. N.d. Special thanks to: University of San Diego Copley Library for donating the PVA. University of San Diego Copley Library for donating the PVA.

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