Procedures and Treatments Used for Book Repair and Pamphlet Binding

Before & After

Book Repairs & Treatments

• Recasing a Book Block
• Replacing a Book Spine
• Reconstructing a Book Cover I
• Reconstructing a Book Cover II
• Variations: Quick Hangs & Half Hangs
• Enclosures: Flaps, Wraps & Hard-shelled Wraps
• Enclosures: Light-weight Boxes
• Enclosures: Heavy-duty Boxes
• Adding/Making Pockets in Books
• Temporary Spine Repair
• Tightening Loose Hinges

The pages (links) listed above contain descriptions of the procedures we use on a daily basis. We have illustrated them with over 400 color photos. They are intended to show both the complexity of some treatments and the range of preservation decisions one must make for each individual item.

Please Note: These pages are not designed to be a definitive tutorial in hand binding methods or book repair. They can serve to illuminate the process as practiced in our unit, at the University of Illinois Library, but can hardly be considered an optimal substitute for personalized, hands-on instruction from a trained practitioner.

Photo demonstrations by staff members and volunteers: Susan Fagan, Chris Fava, Laura Gregory, Tom Healy, Aaron Johnson, Viveka Kudaligama, Jeffrey Makala, Sally Oh, Tricia Robbins, Casey Westerman.