FAQs For

Binding/Marking/Preservation

Q. When is the next binding shipment?

A. Incoming binding shipments are delivered biweekly (except around major holidays) on Thursdays. Outgoing binding shipments are picked up on the same days. Materials are returned in two weeks.

Send unbound materials to RSBinding at least one week ahead of the pickup date to give staff time to prepare the shipment for the bindery.

The Heckman Bindery pickup and delivery schedule is posted on the web under TS Documentation.

Q. What are our choices in binding options?

A. It depends upon the type of library material and type of results you want. If the piece(s) are periodicals or serials, then you have two main options. One is standard; the other custom. Custom means more specialized work, so custom prices are higher. Most periodicals and serials can be processed as standard.

If the piece is a monograph, then you have three main options. Two are economy approaches--mylar and HPB. Mylar books are easy to identify because the paperback cover has been laminated onto a stiff piece of cardboard and reattached. HPB uses a lower grade cover material, no rounding or backing,  more standardized steps, and is usually selected for thin textblocks. The other method is custom, that can include many kinds of special handling instructions, such as pockets. As with periodicals, custom means higher prices because of more specialized instructions. It is often a piece by piece decision, and RS Binding staff are trained to make the best decision for each.

If an item needs to be rebound, but the sewing or glue is still holding the pages securely,  another option is available.  Recasing involves making only a new cover; no trimming or regluing the textblock will take place. Recasing is the preferred method to use for rebinding materials because it saves inner margins. If you want more details about binding options, contact Machelle Keen or Karen Pillow. 

Q. How do I know where to look for a book in the Binding/Marking area?

A. There are two main clues which help narrow down the search. Both can be found in Acorn. The first clue is in the current location field. If it says IN-PROCESS and the item has a cataloged date, then the piece has moved on to Binding or Marking. The second clue to look for is the charge history. You can view the current charge by doing the DISPLAY/ITEM command. All items waiting for labels should be charged to Marking. All items waiting to be processed for the bindery, items at the bindery, or items just received back from the bindery, should be charged to AT BINDERY. The charge date will determine where in the backlog the item may be. A team member can help locate the item from there.

Q. Can I RUSH a book at the bindery?

A. If a book is charged to COMMERCIAL BINDERY, it is not retrievable until after it returns from the bindery. Once an item has arrived at the bindery, it joins a flow of tens of thousands of other books and is extremely difficult to locate. We will RUSH process it as soon as it is returned to the library.  

Q. I think I see mold on a book. What can I do about it?

A. ALWAYS place a book with suspected mold in a plastic bag and seal it shut. Then wash your hands. Mold spores travel easily from book to book, or book to human, and care should be taken to minimize exposure. Some people are allergic to mold spores and could become ill. Also, it is a good idea to check the area where the book was last located to see if nearby books are also affected. Mold can appear in different colors and can grow rapidly in the right conditions of warm temperatures and high relative humidity.

Treating a moldy book really depends upon how much mold is evident and where it is located on or in the book. It also depends upon whether the mold is active or dormant. Generally, but not always, if the mold is only on the cover and not inside on the pages, then the book cover can be cleaned with isopropyl alcohol and returned to circulation. Sometimes stains will remain visible, but the book should be okay.

If mold is evident on the pages, especially in the inner margin and through several pages in sequence, then the problem is not easily fixed unless one has appropriate equipment and training. The recommendation is usually to withdraw material in this condition and throw the item away, especially if it is replaceable.

Contact the Preservation Office for specific information and advice.

Q. How can I decide if I should send a book to the bindery or to in-house book repair?

A. There are several factors that influence the decision to send a book either to the bindery or to in-house repair. They include the physical condition of the paper, the physical condition of the textblock, the physical condition of the cover, how the pages are attached to each other (sewed, glued, or stapled), and the artifactual and historical value of the item. A flow chart illustrating the decision process is located under Sorting Books for Treatment at:

Repair and Binding Flowchart