Books
Objectives
page 33
Introduction to the care and repair of books
page 33
Parts of the books
page 33
What are the most common types of damage
page 34
Book structure, materials and damage to books
page 36
Wear and tear of books
page 39
Common causes of damage
page 40
The do’s and don’ts of handling books
page 40
The do’s and don’t of repair and labelling
page 41
Storing and displaying books
page 42
The best materials for storage and
display of books
page 44
Storage enclosures for books
page 44
Easy do-it-yourself storage enclosures for books
page 45
How does light affect books on display?
page 48
Supporting books when they are on display
page 49
Summary of conditions for storage and display
page 50
Books in Australians climatic zones
page 51
Book maintenance
page 52
Some miscellaneous advise
page 54
MORE ABOUT BOOKS
A brief history of books
page 55
Types of bindings
page 56
Materials commonly found in books
page 59
Paper repair
page 61
For further reading
page 63
Self-evaluation quiz
page 64
Answers to self-evaluation quiz
page 65
Books 33
Objectives
At the end of this chapter you should:
•
have an understanding of the main factors
that contribute to the deterioration of books;
•
have practical knowledge about how to store
and display books so that damage is
minimised;
•
have a basic knowledge and some practical
skills so that you can make boxes, and do
basic repairs in the best and safest manner,
and use appropriate materials to preserve
books in your collections;
•
understand the need for ongoing maintenance
and management of books—to ensure access
to them—while at the same time minimising
the risk of damage; and
•
have a basic knowledge of book structures
and the range of materials which go to make
up books.
Introduction to the care
and repair of books
Books have been with us for centuries. In early
years, they were rare and owned usually by wealthy
people or the Church. With the invention of
moveable type in 1440, text could be mass-
produced. This inevitably led to wider distribution
and greater deman