How to Fix Book Binding: Goodbye to Loose Pages and Broken Spines
In an ideal world, books would remain in perfect condition from the moment they are created until, well, forever, but if you’re a reader like me, you’ll probably need book repair at some point. We’ve already covered how to save a wet book, clean books, and repair book binding.
Do You Need to Fix Book Binding? Don’t Do This!
Tape, glue, and rubber cement are all good options, but they can damage your books. They’re fine if you’re just trying to keep a few pages together until the semester is over, but they’re not a solution for how to fix book binding.
1. Get the Right Products
You’ll need acid-free glue and a long stick to spread the glue around your book if you’re doing your own book repairs.
3. Apply Your Glue
Open your book and squeeze a thin layer of glue inside the spine where the pages have loosened, then spread the glue on the spine with your bone folder/popsicle stick/knitting needle.
4. Stick Your Pages Back on the Spine
Make sure your pages are in the correct order, and press firmly on the edges of the pages to set them into the spine. Do whatever it takes to get the pages to line up with the rest of the book, but keep in mind that you don’t have unlimited time.
5. Add Some Heavy Stuff and Let the Book Dry
Put a book in a plastic container, cover it with plastic sheeting, and let it dry for at least 24 hours; when you open it, you should have a book with tightly attached pages on top of it.
How to Fix Book Binding: Broken Hinge Edition
If your book hinge is broken or nearly broken, there are a few steps you should take. First and foremost, you should remove the hinge from the book completely, as it is easier to repair a hinge that is not attached to the book.
1. Gather Supplies
You’ll also need non-acid adhesive, brushes to evenly apply it, and at least two large rubber bands to hold it all together.
2. Cut Your Binder Tape
Why not use the height of the book cover instead of cutting a piece of binder tape the same height as the text block? The text block is almost always shorter, and if you base your measurement on the cover, you’ll almost certainly end up with way too much tape.
3. Brush One Side of the Tape with Adhesive and Attach the Tape to the Text Block
Apply adhesive to one side of the tape and then attach it to the text block, making sure to hold the tape by its dry tabs and align the stitching with the edge of the text blocks.
4. Give the Adhesive Plenty of Time to Dry
Take your time – it could take a few hours or a few days to dry the adhesive. You can tell if it’s dry by running your finger over it; if it feels wet at any point, it’s still wet.
5. Place Your Waxed Paper
Apply adhesive to the waxed paper and binder tape, then to the tabs. Gently bring up the cover so the edge of it fits along the seam of the tape, then press the spine against one tab and make sure it lays flat against the other tab.
What counts as a damaged book?
If a book is returned to the library in a state that requires extensive repair OR is unable to be repaired and cannot be returned to circulation, it is considered “damaged.”
What could lead to books to be damaged in the library?
Wet or moldy books. Books with food stains, oily or sticky residue. Books with missing pages or covers. Books with pencil, ink, or highlight marker markings.
How do you fix a bad book binding?
Loose Pages Edition: How to Fix Book Binding
- Gather Supplies.
- Cut Your Binder Tape.
- Brush One Side of the Tape with Adhesive and Attach the Tape to the Text Block.
- Set the Loose Pages Aside.
- Apply Your Glue.
- Stick Your Pages Back on the Spine.
- Add Some Heavy Stuff and Let the Book Dry.
How do you not damage books?
According to a Museum, here’s how to keep your books in good shape.
- Avoid direct sunlight.
- Check the temperature.
- Think about air quality.
- Don’t pick up a book by the spine.
- Handle with gloves.
- Make a digital copy.
What do we usually say when something is broken or torn?
antonyms
- Broken. adjective. a broken object has been damaged and is in two or more pieces.
- Battered. adjective. old and slightly damaged.
- Faulty. adjective. not working or made correctly.
- Fractured. adjective. broken, or cracked.
- Flawed. adjective.
How do books get ruined?
To “ruin” a book means to make it impossible for it to fulfill the purpose for which it was created; in most cases, this means that the book has been rendered completely unreadable.
What can damage books?
Cigarette smoke and ashes can settle deep into the pages, making it difficult to remove the odor. Book lice, silverfish, and several types of beetles can damage books and chew through pages. Books can also become victims of secondhand smoke. Cigarette smoke and ashes can settle deep into the pages, making it difficult to remove the odor.
What are the causes of deterioration of library material?
External causes of deterioration include physical, chemical, and biological factors, as well as improper storage, unauthorized exposure, risky handling, theft, and natural disasters. Internal causes include poor quality of paper or materials, as well as the chemicals used in printing and binding.
Is Gorilla Glue good for book binding?
Gorilla Glue can be used for bookbinding because it is strong and waterproof, but it can wrinkle thinner paper when it dries, so it may not be the best choice for all types of bookbinding projects.
How do you fix a duct tape book binding?
To hold the two halves of the book together, use duct tape for the spine. Place a piece of duct tape sticky side up on the work surface, then place the book covers on the tape as shown, leaving about a quarter of an inch between the edges of the cover so that the section of pages can go.
Should I cover my books with plastic?
Books need to breathe, and plastic can trap moisture, encouraging mold, warping, and pests, as well as reacting with the book. If you must store a book in a bag, try a paper bag or wrap the book in paper, tissue, or plain cloth.
Is it better to store books upright or flat?
Always pack stacks of books with fore edges facing the sides of the box so that if the load shifts, the “spines against spines” configuration protects the books from damage. Do not stack books flat on top of upright ones.
Is it OK to stack books on top of each other?
However, not all books should be stored upright; if necessary, stack them horizontally on top of one another in a rough pyramid shape, but be careful not to stack them too high, as the weight of the stack could damage the boards and spines of the books at the bottom.