The book should be cleaned as well as mended. Careful attention should
be given to the cleanliness of the books in circulation. There is
nothing that more quickly creates a distaste for the use of a public
library than the handling of soiled and grimy books.
Careful study of the paper upon which books are printed is
necessary, and in cleaning the fact that different papers and
finishes require different treatment must be taken into account. The
spongy feather-weight paper upon which much of the fiction is printed is
difficult to clean. Pencil marks may be erased with art gum used gently;
soil of any other kind is almost impossible to remove. Heavily
clay-coated paper may be cleaned with powdered pumice or a hard eraser.
Highly calendered paper and any hand made paper may be cleaned with a
damp cloth; cleaning but a few pages at a time and allowing book to
remain open until dry.