Book repair manual

67 Pages·1984·6.991 MB·English

by  Robert J. Milevski

ILLINOIS STATE LIBRARY
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ILLINOIS DOCUMENTS
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ILLINOIS GOPERATIVE GNSERIATION PROGRAM
BOOK REPAIR MANUAL
by
ROBERT J. MILEVSKI
ILLUSTRATIONS BY HOLLIS DENN ONKEN
July 1984
Funded in part by the Library Services and Construction Act
ILLINOIS GOPERATVE GNSERIATION PROGRAM
MORRIS LIBRARY + SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSIToYt GARBONDALE
GRBONDALE,LLINOIS 62901 + ~—_Telephone: [phone]
‘The Illinois Cooperative Conservation Program was developed to address the
needs of all types of libraries for conservation information and services.
Over the past three years, ICCP's goal has been to help libraries learn to
protect and repair expensive/valuable library materials so that they can
remain physically accessible to patrons. Library Services and Construction
Acts funds awarded through the Illinois State Library were used to develop an
information service, publish posters and focused information sheets, distribute
training materials, consult on-site with libraries, and hold continuing
education workshops and individual training sessions. In the summer of 1984,
IccP began offering modest treatment services for the conservation of rare,
unique and local history materials using the conservation facility at Morris
Library, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.
Over @ period of three years, nearly 1,000 persons have attended ICCP workshops.
One special series of workshops was developed to teach book repair procedures.
In day-long sessions, fifteen participants taught by Robert J. Milevski
learned simple procedures designed to economically return damaged items to
usable condition. Participants received a kit of book repair tools and
supplies which they used to learn the procedures and brought back with them
to their libraries to enable them to begin to apply their new skills
immediately. The Book Repair Workshops concentrated on the repair problems
of circulating collections, while other focused ICCP workshops addressed
topics such as the care and treatment of local history materials, paper
conservation, and disaster planning.
This manual includes instructional materials developed for the Book Repair
Workshops including descriptions of book repair problems; instructions
for step-by-step repair techniques; lists of supplies and suppliers; a
glossary, and additional readings. For library systems, associations, or
networks interested in duplicating the series, the manual includes a list
of specifications for kit stock orders including actual suppliers and sample
costs for a workshop series requiring 225 kits.
The success of ICCP programs and activities has been due in large part to
the assistance of the eighteen regional Library Systems in Illinois, the
Illinois State Library, and Morris Library, Southern Illinois University
at Carbondale. ICCP especially thanks Bridget Lamont and Preston Levi of
the Illinois State Library for their support and encouragement.
Carolyn Clark Morrow
Project Director
Carbondale, Illinois

12 July 1984

page 3
CONTENTS
PREFACE ...
CONTENTS..
SECTION 1
Book Structure and Book Problems »--.+..--..ss+sseesee eee e
Splie Texthlock s2--oneesa stuees
Loose Hinges Without Torn Endsheets
Loose Hinges With Torn Endsheets
Detached Cover’ + sess eesuiesnaec e

Torn or Deteriorated Cover Spine
SECTION 2

Book Repair Procedures

Tightening the Hinges of a Hardback Book
Recasing a Textblock into its Original Cover

Replacing a Worn Spine with a New Buckram Spine

Tipping Pages into Bound Volumes

SECTION 3

Adhesive Binding: History, Causes of Deterioration,
and Simple Book Repair Procedures...... #635:
GLOSSARY

ADDITIONAL READINGS
CONTENTS OF THE ICCP BOOK REPAIR KIT 63
BOOK REPAIR SUPPLIES AND SUPPLIERS
SSOUUPRPCLEISE RS’F OR ADEDNRDESSHSEEEST PAPER AND LIGHT WEIGHT BRISTOL. 66 7
ADHESIVES: INSTRUCTIONS FOR MIXING, DILUTING, AND USE +69
+70
& a = e S 2 2 = 3 a & S « a ae 2 s S = « oO

page 5
SECTION 1
BOOK STRUCTURE AND BOOK PROBLEMS
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HEAD OF BooK
cover sin e FRONT cover

TAIL OF BooK:
OUTER HINGE Borrow pce

LLLUSTRATION MMBER 2: STANDI NG, COVER-FAIED BOOK. )
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HEADBAND,
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INNER HINGE
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BOOK STRUCTURE AND BOOK PROBLEMS
INTRODUCTION
This section will familiarize you with the parts of a book and how it is
put together. It will also illustrate familiar deteriorated books in the
collections of all libraries.
The ICCP book repair workshops, for which this manual was developed, were
designed to teach simple repair procedures to library staff to help them
keep = of their book stock in use and in circulation for as long as it
is needed.
The glossary at the end of the manual defines the terms used throughout,
including those terms that are underlined.
Use this section of the manual to become familiar with the structure of most
hardback books and with their typical repair problems. Each problem type
that is illustrated is also related to a solution. The solutions are covered
‘in the manual's sections on book repair procedures.
SECTION 1A: BOOK STRUCTURE AND CONSTRUCTION
Most modern books are case-bound. The case (cover) and the textblock are
constructed separately, although simultaneously, and then the two pieces
are brought together and attached to each other with an adhesive. (See
illustration #3.) Let's examine these two components individually.
Textblock (See illustrations #4A & #48.)
The textblock of a book is a block of pages which are bound together. This
block of pages is made up of either a group of folded sections or individual
leaves. The sections or leaves are formed from large sheets of paper on
whic h a sequence of pages are printed. Each sheet is then folded so that the
pages are in correct order. This makes up a section. Individual leaves
of text are formed when the folded edges of each section are cut off.
Sections and leaves are sewn and/or glued together along the folded edge
(of a section) or the fold-cut edge lof the individual leaves) (which has
also been roughened by machine to more readily accept an adhesive). This
edge is the spine of the textblock. Endsheets are then tipped-on to the
front and back of the textblock at the spine edge. Next, the Spine can be
rounded and sometimes backed to form the convex spine and concave fore-edge
typical of most books. Following this, a headband and a tailband and one
or two spine linings are glued down to reinforce the spine. The endsheets
and spine linings attach the textblock to its case.
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How the pages of a book's textblock are held together as a unit is vital to
how well the textblock will open and to how well the textblock will hold its
shape. Books whose sections are sewn through the folds and to each other
are much superior to and operate more effectively than leaves of text held
together with a layer of adhesive. (Adhesive binding is also commonly
Relic peries winding. Wor cally, adkesWveihindiie are haralyi7partcce:
when the adhesive doesn't hold.) The leaves of a perfect-bound book can
sometimes be removed almost as readily as sheets froma pad of paper.
Case (See illustration #5.)
Also important is the method and materials used to attach the textblock
to its case. (Later called “cover” once the casing-in process is completed.)
The case is two pieces of heavy board (the hard covers), a spine strip (heavy
paper or bristol that will hold the rounded shape of the book spine), and a
covering material (book cloth, buckram, paper, etc.).
The boards and spine strip are cut to specific measurements. They are glued
down to the covering material at pre-determined distances apart. These
distances are critical. The case must cover the textblock precisely. The
cover boards should lie flat and also hinge freely around the shoulder of
the textblock. The cover spine should fit snugly over the textblock spine.
The cover boards should form a 1/8" square around the top, bottom, and fore
edges of the textblock. The result 12a cover which functio ns properly” and
which both encloses and protects the textblock.
The points of attachment between textblock and case are the hinge areas.
These are critical. Hinges have several purposes: the covers move (or
open or turn) on them (more specifically the shoulder of the textblock),
and they serve to hold the textblock into its cover. If quality materials
are used and they are properly glued into place, the book will function
very well, and the hinges will be strong. Alternatives to proper materials
and workmanship are detrimental to the book. The result is hinge areas
which are inherently weak. Combine this weakness with ordinary use and
circulation and the textblock is soon loose in its cover, or the book has
Joose hinges.
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ILLUSTRATION NUMBER 3:
MAJOR COMPONENTS OF TYPICAL MODERN BOOK: TEXTBLOCK AND
CASE, JUST PRIOR TO CASING- IN.
PAPER LINING! 2ND TEXTBLOCK SPINE LINING
SUPER: IST TEXTBLOCK SPINE LINING
TURN IN eNoSHEET
vexreveck
k zoe J

( iLLusTRATION NUMBER 4A:
EXPLODED VIEW OF TEXTBLOCK WITH SEWN OR GLUED SECTIONS.
HEADBANDS AND SUPER ARE ATTACHED TO SPINE.
‘TEXTBLOCK ALSO ROUNDED AND BACKED.
BACK ENDSHEET
HEADBAND
FRONT ENDSHEET
TAILBAND \supen: Ist TEXTBLOCK SPINE LINING
-APER LINING? 2ND TEXTBLOCK SPINE LINING S
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(TaLasTRATION NAEER 4B) EXPLODED VIEW OF TENIBLOK, RESIVE BUS.
MEADAAND/TAI LBAND GLUED TO PAPER LINING.
TEXTRLOCK 18 SLIGHTLY BACKED.
TATLOAND 5 ADHESIVE
Ga eee
=

( - LuuSTRATION NUMBER 5: ~
VIEW OF CASE BEFORE COVERING MATERIAL IS TURNED-IN ON
(TURNED OVER ONTO) THE BOARDS AND SPINE STRIP.
SPINE STRIP

HINGE AREA
COVERING MATERIAL
ae a
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