4Real Forums: Book repair (again)

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Topic: Book repair (again)

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Donna Marie
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Posted: April 18 2012 at 5:54pm \| IP Logged

I found this old book in a pile. It is missing its spine..has a front and back cover that is present. The pages seem to want to come loose but I think the book is a keeper. It seems to have been in a damp place but isn't too offensive.

How would you repair this book so it is suitable for reading? I am not even going to bother to read it until I know I won't lose the pages. It is old!

I love discarded books but I don't know which ones to leave in a discarded pile and which ones to adopt

What are your guidelines for collecting old books??
How do I even know if something is living in it or not??

TIA!!

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JennGM
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Posted: April 18 2012 at 6:41pm \| IP Logged

Is there something holding the pages together? There should be several signatures held together, usually sewn, and then there's an outside piece that glues the signatures together. Can you tell if the pages are now separated from the signature?

For books like this, I would first liberally use this glue to put the pages back to the spine, and then perhaps make a new cover on top of the existing one. It wouldn't have to be too fancy, but something to hold everything together.

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Jennifer G. Miller
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JennGM
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Posted: April 18 2012 at 6:58pm \| IP Logged

Donna Marie wrote:

Sorry I only answered this part, and I missed that it just didn't have the spine. Change my repair -- I would glue the pages, then add book tape to create a spine. Perhaps use cardboard to make a spine, glue that one, then secure with book tape.

Donna Marie wrote:

I love discarded books but I don't know which ones to leave in a discarded pile and which ones to adopt

What are your guidelines for collecting old books??
How do I even know if something is living in it or not??

TIA!!

I'm more discretionary. I check online to see what the book is worth, how many copies are easily available. If it's really old, many times it's in the public domain and available as an ebook, or if it's such a great book, sometimes it's been reprinted.

I don't like getting musty or crumbly books, and usually don't do spineless unless it's super rare. I assess the damage to see if I can clean it up a bit, repair some pages, glue the binding to make it tight again, I'll get the book.

Since room is getting tight I'm also being picky about what comes home with me. Can I get it anywhere else? Will I really read this or my child read this? Is it on my wishlist? If not, it needs to be really, really outstanding to live in my home.

Musty books do spread to other books, so I don't like to bring that home usually. There are ways to get rid of it, but it takes some effort and lots of time.

As far as something living in it...Reading the Saints had this to say:

Quote:

Examine any newly acquired book for signs of insect infestation--silverfish, roaches, book lice, and beetles. Such signs include the appearance of small holes the size of a pencil dot in the spine, cover or text block; the appearance of insect excrement (frass), or the appearance of dead or living insects. (Frass can look like tiny grains of sand, small black pellets, or brown stains.) Place the dry book in a zipper-sealed plastic bag and keep it in the freezer for at least three weeks, then immediately refrigerate (to slow down thawing) in the unopened bag for several days. leave the book wrapped in the bag for several weeks after removing from the refrigerator. This treatments takes some time but it simply done and will protect the other books in your collection as insect infestation can spread if not eliminated. (The freezer treatment is also effective in reducing some book odors.) Although I have never tried it, there are some who prefer a microwave treatment for book bugs. Check online for further information before you try this alternative procedure.

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Jennifer G. Miller
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'03 & ds2

'07
Family in Feast and Feria

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