When the stitches break and a section or a few leaves fall out, the book
should be sent to the bindery immediately.
This is happening daily with the original publishers' bindings. If
the book is removed from the shelves the librarian is at once
confronted by the problem of being unable to answer the unceasing
cry for the last new novel, as it is the fiction which is usually in
this condition. However, if the book is allowed to circulate a few
more times there are "pages missing" and the book has become
valueless.
No book should be rebound with pages missing.
When the stitches have not broken, but either a few or
all the sections have become loose:
There is no excuse for the librarian to leave upon her shelves or
permit to circulate books that are held together only by the slender
threads with which they are sewed and threatening at any moment to
come tumbling forth from the cover. Such books speak in no uncertain
terms for rebinding or permanent withdrawal from the shelves.
_Shall books be sent to the bindery when in greatest demand?_
YES, when they cannot be circulated further without permanent injury to
them.
Such books should be hastened through the bindery by statement to
binder regarding immediate need. If your present binder cannot bind
promptly, find one who will.
The prompt rebinding of a book more than doubles its life. If the
book has been reinforced at first sign of giving way (see page 16)
all the temporary assistance that can safely be given has been
rendered and if the book is of permanent value to the library it
must be rebound.