Library Bookbinding

ecial requirements. Unfortunately, there are comparatively few binders who make a specialty of this kind of work. Librarians of most of the smaller librar

e head of blank-book work) and the library books go through the regular process of being sewed on twine and put into covers with no special reinforcements. The materials used are not the best and the workmanship is generally poor. Local binders, realizing that the funds are usually inadequate for the needs of the library, frequently do this work at a price which at first sight seems

herefore, the librarian should learn in just what ways good library binding differs from other binding. All the good materials and processes, and all the various methods of strengthening a bo

isadvantage, for no examination of the work can be made while the books are in process. That the binder chosen should do honest work goes without saying. The work of a dishonest or incompetent binder always shows in the poor service which the books give, but inasmuch as dishonest work is generally co

lecting a binder at a distance, they should not expect the impossible. The writer has seen books sent to binders which were in such bad condition that no bind

be done according to his own ideas. If the binder understands that he may have the work only

aterial, good workmanship and special reinforcements which take time. Since the largest part of the cost of a book is due to the

is better to ask binders to submit samples of their work with specifications of the way in which the books are bound. If, however, it seems wise