RIT Library Bindery Policy/Procedure: Monographs
New Items
1. Decision Maker
The bibliographer or other librarian placing an order for a paperbound item(see
General Collecting Principles section of RIT Library Collection Development
Policy), an item whose format is not known, or a monographic continuation/series
determines if that item should be commercially bound or sent to the stacks without
binding. This decision is conveyed to the Cataloging Department by marking “BIND”
or "NO BIND" on the order card, order slip, blurb, or catalog description of
the item used to place the order.
2. Decision Criteria
Not Bound
a. Special Collections materials
b. Low use anticipated
c. Limited useful lifetime (for example, annually updated sources)
Commercial Binding
a. Paper binding and/or page attachments will not withstand anticipated normal
use
b. Covers are too weak to support book on the shelf
c. Items issued as loose pages (may be bound together or housed in a bindery-made
portfolio) *It is assumed that any paperbound books purchased with special
funds will fall into the "commercial binding" category and will be automatically
bound.
Pamphlet Binding
a. Ephemeral items of limited useful life or of anticipated low use b. Microfiche
publications issued without a book-like container
Rebinding and Repairs
1. Decision Maker
The Cataloging Department staff will determine which damaged items can be repaired
in-house and which must be rebound by a commercial bindery.
2. Decision Criteria
Commercial Rebinding (paperbacks or hardcover items)
a. Damage to cover(s) compromises the text block or makes the item difficult
to shelve (for example, warping due to water damage)
b. Large sections of the text block have pulled away from spine
c. Large number of pages are falling out (paperback style binding problem)
d. Large number of pages in a vandalized book are being replaced with photocopies
In-House Repairs
a. Tip in a few loose pages in books with otherwise sound bindings
b. Tip in a few replacement pages in vandalized books with sound bindings
c. Reinforce weak gutters in books with otherwise sound bindings
d. Reinforce frayed headbands in books with otherwise sound bindings
e. Reinforce frayed board corners in books with otherwise sound bindings
Replacement and Withdrawal
1. Decision Maker
If there is a question about the continued usefulness of a damaged item to
the library collection or if an item cannot be commercially rebound, the bibliographer
responsible for the item should be consulted to determine if it should be withdrawn
or replaced.
2. Decision Criteria
Items too damaged or too fragile to circulate, yet judged to be of continuing
value to the collection, will be replaced if their condition precludes commercial
rebinding as in the following cases:
a. Paper is too brittle
b. Margins are too small
c. A significant number of pages are missing
Options for replacing damaged or fragile items include:
a. Purchasing a new copy of an in-print item from the publisher or vendor
b. Purchasing a used copy of an out-of-print item from a book dealer
c. Purchasing a photocopy of an out-of-print item from UMI Books on Demand
d. Contracting with a book copying service to disbind and copy the item
Types of Binding
1. “Advantage”
Based on performance over the 1992/93 year, the Advantage binding (double fan,
wide inner margin, flat spine, flush bottom edge) is preferred for all monograph
binding, both for paperbound items and rebinding of hardcover books intended
for the circulating, reference, and reserve collections.
2. “Class A”
Class A bindings (rounded back, stitched) are used for RIT thesis reports.
3. “Paperback” and Laminate Bindings
The use of paperback (glued, but not fanned) and laminate bindings (such as
“Cleercover”) is discouraged, based on the poor performance of these bindings
in the RIT Library collection.
4. Portfolio Boxes
Full folio portfolio boxes fabricated by commercial binderies are used for items
issued as loose pages or in very rare cases, to protect damaged items which
cannot be rebound. In most cases this type of binding is reserved for items
assigned a 'rare' locator.
5. Pamphlet Bindings
Commercially manufactured pamphlet folders are used to protect ephemeral materials.
Stapling the pages together along the left margin before attaching to the glued
strips is recommended.
[July 1994 - revised Oct. 1997]
Maintained by Sheila Smokey
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