Shelf Management identifies books that are damaged. A mending slip is filled out for each book, and the status is changed to mending. The books are stored at Circulation on the shelf containing damaged books. The Collection Development Librarian (Dave) will decide which items to mend, replace, or withdraw based on use, importance for our collection, and recommendation in RCL.
Mending students will notate the evaluating librarian’s first name initial (e.g. “D” if Dave) in green in the upper right corner of the mending slip for each book to be mended. Mending students decide what type of mending procedures are needed to repair each book, and notate them on the end of the mending slip next to the call number. Easy fixes (e.g., tip-ins, erratas, Easy Bind, ripped page, taping) may be placed on the mending shelf and repaired without approval. Books that are volumes of sets may also be mended without approval; notate “set” in green in upper right corner of mending slip. If it is determined that a book should be sent to the Bindery or have a box created to protect it, then a permanent staff member should decide if this course of action and expense should occur or if the book should be replaced.
When you have completed the mending on an item, please write your initials and the date on the inside back cover. E.g., "mended 8/13/2021 CN"
If a book should be replaced with a new copy/edition, give the damaged book to Acquisitions for replacement. Damaged books to be withdrawn should be given to Cataloging.
The books should then be distributed to the appropriate mending shelves for mending as time allows. After a book has been mended, place it on the ‘Completed Mending’ counter in the Metadata Associate's office.
The Mending supervisor will check the mended books and proof the spine titles. If a call number spine label needs to be printed, first make sure the call number is acceptable and complete (a publication date might be needed) and update if necessary before printing the label. Return completed items to Circulation, who will update the location/work order information and shelve the item.
When Circulation or another staff member identifies an item that requires repair, they should include a mending slip, which looks like this:
Methyl cellulose, the main ingredient in most commercial wallpaper pastes, is acceptable for conservation purposes if used in its pure form. It comes as a white powder and does not need to be cooked. Methyl Cellulose dries more slowly than PVA glue, and is a reversible glue.
Supplies:
Procedure for small batch (this is the one we use most often):
Procedure for one quart:
Methyl cellulose absorbs water slowly so dilution takes a few minutes. Methyl cellulose is not as strong as starch paste or PVA glue, but should give adequate support for objects of moderate size. It dries more slowly than PVA, and is reversible. It keeps for several weeks and does not require refrigeration.
Use for:
Large books (at least 1 ½” thick) which are too fragile or unique to be repaired in any other way (e.g., brittle, rare, hand-bound, leather-bound, already repaired once in house).
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Procedure:
Image: Eric Alstrom <alstrom@msu.edu> http://www.lib.msu.edu/alstrom/
Use for:
Medium sized books (less than 1 ½” thick) which are too fragile or unique to be repaired in any other way (e.g., brittle, rare, hand-bound, leather-bound, already repaired once in house).
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Procedure:
Summary: Two boards will be cut to make the box; the first is the inside board, the second is the outside board. Measure and mark lines to be cut; trace lines with bone folder to facilitate folding; cut board using utility knife. There is a sample box on the mending shelf.
Use for:
Small books which are too fragile or unique to be repaired in any other way. The book measurements should be approximately 1/4" thick or less, and its width should be less than 7 3/4" so the folder stock is large enough to make the slipcase.
Supplies:
Procedure:
Eric Alstrom <alstrom@msu.edu> http://www.lib.msu.edu/alstrom/
Use for:
Loose, soft-cover materials that are not good candidates for plastic adhesive Easy Covers (aka cover-ups). Examples: stand alone video guides, music scores for performance, very small pamphlets. Pambinders may also be used to house pocketed materials (see “Pocket” section).
Supplies:
Procedure:
NOTES:
Use for:
Loose materials that need to be kept with a text. Examples: maps, separate music scores. Pockets may be used in pambinders or regular books.
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Procedure:
Use for:
Books with covers falling off; or if the material connecting the boards/covers of the book to the body of the book is badly torn, separated, or stretched out. Repair if one or both boards are coming off.
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Procedure:
NOTES:
Use for:
Books whose covers are still well attached but have a ripped or loose spine that is breaking off.
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Procedure:
Diagram 1 Diagram 2
NOTES:
Use for:
Writing titles on rebuilt spines and boxes made for books.
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Procedure:
Samples:
Use for:
Books whose corners are damaged.
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Procedure:
NOTE: When using glue, keep the glue off the cutting mat by protecting the mat with a large piece of scrap paper. After using a glue brush, please clean it well and separate the bristles. Also, run the sink water long enough to wash away any glue in the sink.
Use for:
Book or magazine pages that have been ripped.
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Procedure:
Use for:
Book pages that have split from each other or are becoming separated so that you can see the binding between two pages.
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Procedure:
Use for:
A page or small section of pages that have fallen out of a book.
Supplies:
Procedure:
NOTE: When using glue, keep the glue off the cutting mat by protecting the mat with a large piece of scrap paper. After using a glue brush, please clean it well and separate the bristles. Also, run the sink water long enough to wash away any glue in the sink.
Use for:
Magazines that are high circulation items and need to be protected from damage, or magazines that have already been damaged (e.g., if the cover came off) and need repair. Examples: People and Rolling Stone.
Supplies:
Procedure:
Use for:
Quick and easy spine reinforcement or repair instead of rebuilding the spine. Use on disposable books which will not be kept indefinitely.
We also use the Tape Machine to reinforce plays (e.g., small publications without much/any spine.
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Procedure: