Confused About Binding?

We frequently receive calls from librarians who have questions about the binding process. Some are unsure about what the process involves and seek information about the benefits, others need assistance on how to go about preparing a consignment. It is understandable, at a time when many librarianship courses don’t teach about binding, that the preservation of information in books by binding is slipping further down the popularity list. However, it is still important to consider the physical preservation and protection of documents and books that are valuable or regularly used in your collection and care.

Scanning and digitising is a useful tool for increasing accessibility to information, but not all books or documents warrant the cost of scanning or digitisation procedures. What that leaves, is binding as an economical way to help prevent the wear and tear of popular and frequently used items.