Tuesday, March 22, 2022

The Life of a Parker Library Book

Books exist to be used and learned from.  Some books are loved a little too much and require some repair.  Librarians will do the best with the material they have on hand, but that is not always what is best for the longevity of the book.  As we worked to re-establish the library for Parker University, I came across a book that was being held together with packaging tape inside and out.

Not only is this bad for the book, but it is highly unattractive.  After a thorough inspection, it was determined that a full binding restoration would need to be done.  The book was disassembled, removing the text block from the covering.

Pieces were salvaged to be added back on later.  New boards were cut and covered in book cloth.  The saved pieces were attached, and the text block was encased into the covering to become a book once again in usable condition.

If you ever need to fix a book at home, please use acid-free tape and remember, books are not coasters.