Mending and Repair of Books

A clear, down‑to‑earth handbook offers librarians and anyone caring for collections a practical roadmap for keeping books in usable shape. It walks readers through the everyday choices that decide whether a volume should be mended on the spot or sent for a full rebinding, stressing the impact those decisions have on a library’s budget and on readers’ expectations. The guide also frames the work of repair as a skill worth learning, encouraging staff to observe professional binders and to build a basic understanding of a book’s construction.

The second part supplies step‑by‑step methods for common problems—loose stitches, weakened joints, and missing pages—while acknowledging that no single technique fits every situation. It balances advice for the seasoned mender with straightforward instructions for newcomers, offering a toolbox of adaptable solutions without venturing into advanced binding art. Readers come away with confidence that even modest, timely interventions can dramatically extend a book’s life on the shelves.