Keywords
Citation
Chao, S.J. (2002), "Book Repair: A How‐to‐Do‐It Manual, 2nd ed.", Collection Building, Vol. 21 No. 2, pp. 78-80. https://doi.org/10.1108/cb.2002.21.2.78.4
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Completely revised and expanded, Kenneth Lavender’s Book Repair includes comprehensive courses of instructions, practices and theories on book repair and conservation techniques. The book combines basic, step‐by‐step instructions and related pictures showing the repair work in process with theoretical but fundamental repair considerations.
The introduction describes various criteria for consideration of book repair, such as:
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the physical needs of the item;
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the desired outcome of the repair;
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time available;
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personnel available;
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funds available;
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expertise in the area;
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durability of the item; and
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reversibility.
The book includes six chapters with illustrated sections on:
- 1.
(1) basic book repair tools and techniques;
- 2.
(2) paper cleaning;
- 3.
(3) treatment of water damaged books and removal of mold and mildew;
- 4.
(4) paper mending;
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(5) hinge and spine repair for reinforcing or replacing book linings and pamphlet bindings; and
- 6.
(6) protective enclosures.
Appendix A provides procedures for making a disposable box of paper or polyester film so that viscous liquids such as PVA, dyes and paste mixtures can be held and disposed of easily. A list of basic tools, supplies, and equipments are included in Appendix B. In Appendix C a list of major book conservation and repair suppliers and their corresponding addresses is provided. Comprehensive bibliographical references and useful Web sites are included in Appendices D and E, respectively.
Book Repair is an essential tool for librarians, book collectors, archivists, academics and students in the field of book conservation and repair. The work should be made available in the public, academic, school, and special libraries of all sizes, as well as on the shelves of personal book collection for avid book lovers.