Please Choose One

PAPERBACK BINDING


Soft Cover Books with Single Pages GLUED Together

Answer all two questions in the sequence listed.


Key elements      Physical Characteristics/Description           Route to
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________


1. PAPER             Is the paper brittle?                       1. Result:

                     Brittle paper is generally yellowed          * If brittle, send to preservation 
                       and flakes, cracks, or breaks off          * If not brittle, go to #2
                       when folded.
                                                                                                                  
2. BINDING           How are the pages attached?                 2. Result:

                     * Is the book made of a series of single     * If pages are glued,
                       pages glued together?                          send to the Bindery
                     * Or is the book made of a group of folded   * If pages are sewn,
                       sections sewn together?                        see sheet on sewn paperbacks

                     In sewn books, if you look at the closed 
                       book from the top or bottom, you will
                       see a pattern similar to UUUUU.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Soft Cover Books with Folded Pages SEWN Together

Answer all four questions in the sequence listed.

 
Key elements      Physical Characteristics/Description           Route to
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
 
 
1. PAPER             Is paper brittle?                           1. Result:

                     Brittle paper is generally yellowed          * If brittle, send to Preservation 
                       and flakes, cracks, or breaks off          * If not brittle, go to #2
                       when folded.

2. BINDING           Is the binding strong enough to             2. Result: 
                       withstand use?
                                                                  * If loose sections due to broken 
                     Sewing is best method of binding              threads, send to the Bindery 
                       if strong thread is used. Occasionally,    * If long, loose stitches           
                       some books from third world countries       send to the Bindery
                       are sewn but only with two stitches        * If solid and strong, 
                       making for a loose binding. Also, some      go to #3
                       threads can be broken.
   
3. SIZE              Does the book need some support to stand    3. Result: 
                       on the shelf? 
                                                                  * If height is 11+ inches,                           
                     The size and thickness often determine        and thickness over 1/4 inch,
                       what type of support it needs.              send to the bindery
                       Paperbacks generally have a 10 inch        * If height is 10 inches or 
                       height and a thickness varying from         under, continue to #4
                       1/4 to 2 inches.                                                               

4. COVER             Is the cover heavy enough to                4. Result:
                       withstand tears? 
                                                                  * If same weight as text pages,  
                     The function of the cover is to protect       send to the Bindery
                       the inside pages from tearing,            ** If laminated paper cover,        
                       therefore a weight similar to a file        send to the stacks. 
                       folder folder provides the best           ** If folder weight paper  
                       protection.                                 cover, send to the stacks.
                                                                                   
** Be sure that the cover is securely attached to the book.  If not,
send to Preservation to be reinforced.


Created 3/22/96