I have a stamp with my library’s name that I put on the main title page. I just got it from the office supply store.
Below is the process I go through when repairing books and getting them ready for circulation. Let me say emphatically that this is what I do…NOT what you should do. And also know that I’ve not gotten very far in this. As I said, I wear many, many hats (don’t we all) and I don’t have nearly as much time to spend on this as I’d like. When my daddy was alive, he would offer to play with my young son while I had a “marathon day” in the library. That was then…this is now.
Also I get all my library supplies from DEMCO…demco.com. I think they also sell an instructional DVD that teaches you how to do these repairs.
So…
Each book is a separate case, like a patient in a doctor’s office. I look at each book and evaluate what it will need. If I’m lucky, all I need to do is enter it into my database, stick in the barcode, add my library stamp and put the label on the spine. Done! But those are few and far between. The following steps are done as needed.
First the book is entered into my database along with the call number according to Dewey (I use a “tweaked” Dewey which means I shelve books according to how we will most likely use them. For example, historical fiction is shelved by its place in history, not in fiction as Dewey would. So Boy of the Pyramids is shelved in Anc. Egypt. Same for science, arts, etc. I show that it’s fiction by attaching a round yellow sticker to the spine below the label.) I write the call number in pencil in the book on the main title page. The barcode goes inside the back cover toward the bottom unless there is a dj. Then I usually put it on the opposite page. I get my labels from Demco. You would need to call them to order.
Exterior
First I remove any stickers on the book using a product called Undo. It’s a liquid that you squirt on the book and use the scraper included to scrape off the sticker. I must say that I hate this step and if the sticker is not overly noticible, I leave it.
Next I clean all hardback books with the book cleaner Demco sells. It works great. Sometimes library rebound books will fade when using this so I test a small area, and just use a very small amount or just wipe over it if it does.
If there is a dustjacket, I cover it with a mylar cover. These can be pricey so if the dj is already covered and the cover still looks nice, I leave it. This is my favorite part of book repair. I could cover dj’s all day. I will cover a dj even if it’s tattered or pieces are missing. It offers a measure of protection to the book and can increase the value of the book.
For worn spines or frayed spines, I use clear book tape. Demco sells a great tool to hold the tape and book in place while you apply it. I waited for a sale and bought it. Doing thousands of books made it worth the price.
If the book is special…older, more rare, very popular, etc., I cover it with a crystal shield. These are heavy plastic covers that you insert the cover of the book into. These are ordered by the size of the book.
Interior
Iniside I mark out any other library stamps. If the stamps are on the pages, I use a scrapbooking marker that won’t bleed through the page. If they on the inside cover or on pockets, I just use a cheap black marker.
I erase any pencil marks. (I had one Freddy the Pig book in which EVERY line was underlined!!! It must have been the way a child kept his place!) If there are pen or crayon marks, I write “crayon noted” or something similar so I know that it was there to begin with and a patron isn’t held responsible.
I use hinge tape on loose hinges. (And easy fix and worth have a roll around.)
If there are places that are pulling away from the cover, I use a TERRIFIC glue called Norbond. I dip a skewer in it and insert it between the cover and the book to adhere it. This glue is VERY strong and is used for many purposes. Definitely get some!
If the cover is broken away from the book itself, I use single-stitched binding tape. It creates a new hinge better than the first. This is an easy fix, believe it or not, and if you can do it, you can snatch up those otherwise expensive books for next to nothing and repair it yourself.
I tape small tears with Scotch tape (yep, the one in the green package.)
If a tear is large, I repair with with Norbond. Dip a skewer in the glue and roll it down one side of the tear. Put the page back together and put wax paper on either side of the page. When it’s dry, just peel off the wax paper and you’ll hardly tell the difference.
If the webbing is showing somewhere in the middle of the book, I simply put a bead of Norbond, insert some wax paper until it dries and peel it off.
For pages that have come out, the process is similar to large tears. Roll the skewer coated with Norbond down the edge of the page. Beginning at the top of the book, slide the page into the book. This makes sure the glue is dispersed down the entire page and spine. Again, allow to dry completely with wax paper between the pages. My mom found Mama Hattie’s Girl by Lois Lenski for a quarter at a flea market. A page was completely out. After the repair, it was good as new. I later found this same book for $300.
When the book is repaired, I put my stamp on the main title page and add the label on the spine with the call number. I just type these up on address labels. I usually process 60 books at a time because that’s how many labels I can get on one page of labels.
For paperbacks, I either put clear book tape down the spine for reinforcement or, if it’s a nicer book or special for some reason, I cover it with clear laminate.
I’ve probably forgotten some things, but I just basically take each book as it comes. It’s probably overkill for most people, and as I said, my books are far from complete (and I’m always buying more so it just puts me further behind.) If I were going to choose a couple of repair materials, it would probably be hinge tape and Norbond (Jan Bloom buys this stuff by the gallon!) You probably already have Scotch tape on hand. You can do a lot of repairs with these few materials. If you have other questions, I’d be happy to help. If you need help deciding what to get from Demco, I can help you find what I get.
