{Reprinted from the Library Journal, of September 1,
1923 by J. F. Barnard and Company, Library Book-
binders, 368 Congress St., Boston, A/ass.]
Specifications for Library
and School Book Binding
General Specifications for Library and
School Book Binding Approved by the
A. L. A. Committee on Bookbinding and the
Library Group of the Employing Book-
binders of America
WHILE these notes have been arranged
primarily as an aid to library and school
book binders in giving detailed instruc-
tions in clear and concise form to their workers,
they will be found equally important for the
guidance of librarians and of assistants in
charge of binding in libraries and schools. They
will serve also as information regarding many
details of binding with which some librarians
are not familiar, the better knowledge of which,
with the co-operation of the libraries based on
that knowledge, should be of great value in
helping to bring about more uniform methods
for library and school book binding.
Both librarians and library binders are asked
to note any additions or modifications which
may seem advisable, and to send such to the
Chairman of the A. L. A. Committee on Book-
binding to' be considered for inclusion in later
revisions of the specifications which it will
probably be necessary to make from year to
year.
Instruction to Binder
When an instruction slip accompanies the vol-
ume to be bound it should be tipped by one
corner to the inner margin of the right hand
page following the titl£ page, using as little
paste as possible. An instruction slip should
never be pasted to the title page, which should
be kept as free as possible from notes or other
marks.
It as rarely advisable to use the original
cover for a resewed book which has been used
in a library.
Preparation for Sewing
All books should be carefully collated before
taking apart, to detect any missing or damaged
leaves, missing or duplicate sections, badly
printed pages, irregular margins, etc. In case of
portraits, maps, or other illustrative material in
bad condition, save if possible, trimming ragged
edges and building out the leaf as described in
a later paragraph.
Where in a work of fiction one or two leaves
are found to be missing in one place, some li-
brarians are willing that the book shall be
bound as it is, provided the missing parts are
neither the first nor the last pages, the missing
pages to be noted on a slip tipped to the inner
margin of the right hand page after the title
page. When a larger number of leaves is miss-
ing or books other than fiction are found im-
perfect, either return the books unbound accom-
panied bv printed slips such as are used bv
some binders, on which the defects of each book
are checked, or ask for further instructions from
the librarian.
While the backs of all books should be
trimmed as little as possible before sewing,
whether to be done bv hand or machine, the
backs of books having narrow or irregular mar-
gins should not be trimmed at all. If margins
are too narrow to oversew without the stitches
encroaching on the print, either "sew thru
bv sections or return the book to its owner un-
bound for further instructions or as being im-
possible to rebind satisfactorily.
The usual order of leaves in the front of
books preceding the text is as follows: (1) Leaf
giving list of other books by same author, or
series or edition notes. (2) Leaf on which is
printed "half title only. (3) Frontispiece,
which may be an illustration, portrait or map.
(4) Title page. (5) Dedication, preface or
introduction, or all of these. (6) Contents.
(7) List of illustrations, maps, etc. (8) Half
title or chapter title.
There are numerous exceptions to this order,
some books having title page only preceding
the text, the subject matter following immedi-
ately. Others have in addition to title page any
one or more of the introductory features de-
scribed, and commonly in the order given, al-
tho varying somewhat.
Discard tissue paper from frontispiece and
illustrations of fiction unless title or descrip-
tion of picture is printed thereon.
Where either inner or outer margin of a leaf
is ragged, trim evenly leaving not less than one-
fourth inch outside of the print on which to
paste a strip of paper of quality and tint similar
to that of the book. A stock of such paper may
be collected from fly leaves in the books which
are to be bound, which will furnish the desired
variety in quality and tint. This kind of patch-
ing is particularly suited to title pages which
are in bad condition while the rest of the book
is fairly good.
Mend tears in margins with light weight
cockle bond paper, and on left page as a rule,
where it shows less in reading. However, when
one side of a torn leaf is blank, patches should
always be pasted on that side.
Mend tears thru print with tissue paper,
strengthening tears in margins with thin bond
paper.
When the paper in a book is brittle or has
become disintegrated from age, or if still ap-
parently in fair condition altho the copyright
date may show the book to he fifteen years old
or more, the paper should be inspected care-
fully and if sewing is not likely to hold, the
book should be returned to the library unbound
with a note as to condition of paper. An at*
tempt to rebind may ruin such a book, while
careful repair might make it usable for a time.
Or the book might appear to he perfect after
rebinding, but after a little time the paper would
be found breaking next to the sewing, and the
binder be blamed for the condition which was
not his fault, or an innocent borrower be sus-
pected of misusing the book. Occasionally the
paper disintegrates within a very few years be-
yond the point of safety to bind.
Sewing, Trimming, Etc.
Provide an extra fly leaf in front and back
of each book.
Do not use a heavy or double muslin guard
on the fly leaf which comes next to the book, as
such a guard will soon cut the leaves of the book
at that point.
End papers should be of fair quality and of
medium weight, either of a rag or kraft basis
and of a subdued tint. Reinforced end papers
with concealed cloth joints are as strong and
far better in appearance than the old types of
visible cloth joints. The reinforcement should
be of thin, strong muslin.
Most books should be oversewed, either by
hand or by machine. There are some books,
however, which it is better to sew thru the sec-
tions^ such as books having narrow or irregular
margins, provided paper is of good enough
quality; books made from a fair grade of heavy
paper if not too large; and some books of
higher grade paper whose original form should
be preserved as far as possible.
Oversewing either bv machine or by hand is
entirely practical for nearly all library binding
including hooks and periodicals, estimated by
various binders at eighty to ninety per cent of
the entire output
Sewing should extend no nearer to upper and
lower edges of the book than one-half to three-
fourths of an inch, to allow for trimming and a
possible second rebinding.
After sewing, trim edges of books carefully,
watching for irregularities in print, extending
maps or plates, narrow or irregular margins, etc.
A trim of one-fourth inch should be ample.
Lining, Rounding and Backing
Linings should be of a good grade of medium
weight canton flannel or muslin, cut to cover the
back of the book to within one-fourth inch of
top and bottom and extending over on each side
one-and-one-half inches.
After a coat of flexible glue has been applied
the volume is rounded and the fabric lining ap-
plied before the book is backed by pasting the
fabric all over on one side (if canton flannel is
used the nep side should be pasted); the backing
to be done when nearly dry. This insures a
smooth and flexible back and well defined joints.
So-calledj super or grass cloth should never be
used for lining.
Joints should be neatly and carefully made,
they should not be so wide as to allow the
coversi to become loose and wobbly.
Covering
A good quality of binder's board should be
used for covers, suited in weight to size and
weight of the book.
Magazines and large books should be bound
in Holliston, Interlaken or Bancroft legal buck-
ram unless instructions indicate otherwise. The
medium and darker colors are most satisfactory.
The lighter shades show soil easily and must be
lettered in. jnk to have titles legible. Gold is
used on the medium and dark colors, which give
better service for permanent binding. For books
of ordinary fiction size some librarians use Cax-
ton buckram, while others prefer the heavier
buckrams.
Two styles of corners are in common use, the
so-called round corner and the square corner.
Both have their advocates, but there seems to be
little choice as to their relative value.
In fastening the cover to the book special
care should be used that the end papers are se-
curely pasted in place in order to insure strong
joints. Never use glue for this purpose. Books
should remain in press until thoroly dry—not
less than twelve hours, while a longer time is
better.
Where leather is specified the use of acid free
morocco (goatskin) is advised. This is espe-
cially desirable for the better class of books
having; hard wear. Reliable manufacturers and
dealers stamp each skin on thei back indicating
it to be free from injurious acids. The or-
dinary grade of cowhide is cheaper than mor-
occo and in most climates disintegrates within
about five years, but an acid free cowhide is
obtainable thru reliable dealers which is said to
be nearly as durable as the acid free morocco.
Roan and buffing are not to be considered for
library binding.
The waterproof cloths or imitation leathers,
made in suitable grades for book binding prom-
ised to meet a need in library binding when put
on the market some years ago. But the unreli-
able qualities put out during the war period
and after, the difficulty in handling and in letter-
ing in the binderies, the cracking of the finish
with use and the occasional lots which had a
verv offensive odor, combined to make them
unpopular both with libraries and binders, and
their use has been largely discontinued. The
need for waterproof bindings in libraries is as
great as ever, however, and it still remains for
the manufacturers to devise means of.suiting the
finish on their materials to the requirements of
libraries and binderies.
Volumes of sets should be accompanied by
instructions as to materials and colors, and by
a sample volume if others of the set have been
rebound in the owning librarv.
Finishing
Finishing should be done after proper sizing
(never with powder) and with tvpe suitable in
size and spacing to the bulk of the book and
length of the title, and with real gold, quality
XXD.
The top of the first line of the call number
should be placed two-and-a-half to three inches
from the lower edge of the "back-bone of the
book. Librarians differ as to this, but the im-
portant point is to have the call number high
enough to escape the friction of ordinary hand-
ling. A standard location to be agreed upon by
library binders would be useful where libraries
do not specify definitely as to height desired.
General Notes
Before books are returned to patrons it is a
good plan to open each one according to rules
with which all binders are familiar. This tends
to overcome the stiffness of the newly bound
volume and minimize the likelihood of the book
being: forced and perhaps ruined by some
thoughtless person. During this process of open-
ing, the books should be inspected critically to
detect any imperfections in sewing, inverted
leaves or sections, torn or pasted leaves, or
other defects in workmanship.
There are some rare, valuable or unusual
books which require special and very careful
treatment which cannot be covered in these spe-
cificalions. Usually, where the quality of the
paper in such books permits, they should be
"sewed thru the sections and trimmed as little
as possible or in some cases not at all. Libra-
rians appreciate intelligence, skill and experi-
ence on the part of the binder when this class of
work is to be done, and there should be good
incentive for the shop that can turn out not only
good serviceable books, but which on occasion
can produce bindings above the average in finish
and workmanship.