COST
Binding is a work of repair, not one of expansion, and consequently the
amount spent for this purpose adds little to the resources of the
library. The modern librarian does not begrudge money for salaries;
heat, light and the general up-keep are items that cannot be reduced
materially in most libraries. But money spent on binding reduces the
funds available for new books. Therefore, a study of the many ways in
which binding bills can be made smaller is well worth while.
Two elements, material and labor, enter into the cost of binding, labor
of course forming the larger part. Since the cost of labor varies in
different parts of the United States, it is impossible to give figures
of cost applicable to all places. Furthermore, as the cost of both
material and labor is increasing constantly any statement made at the
present time might be wrong a year from now.
So far as figures of cost are concerned, it therefore seems best to
discuss maximum and minimum figures. On this basis it is fair to assume
that it will not be necessary at any time in the near future to pay more
than fifty cents a book for fiction and juvenile books eight inches or
less in height, bound in cowhide, government cloth, or the more
expensive imperial morocco cloth. For this amount the librarian should
get the best binding obtainable. As high a price as this is actually
charged by a few binders only, some of whom are justified in so doing
because they give full value for the money, or because the cost of their
labor is high.
If less than thirty-five cents is paid for fiction and juvenile books
eight inches high, it is probable that the binding is not serviceable
and therefore not economical; but in rare cases bindings costing thirty
cents a volume will give excellent service. When low prices are charged
the librarian should be sure that, taking the ratio of cost to
circulation into consideration, he is getting full value. In general, it
may be said that he who gets fiction and juvenile books well bound for
less than forty cents a volume is to be congratulated. Naturally, this
statement does not apply to the large libraries which bind a large
number of books every month, and can therefore obtain better rates than
the smaller libraries.
For books bound in cowhide or cloth, the cost increases at the rate of
from fifteen to twenty cents a volume for every two inches in height.
The price of the smallest volumes bound in morocco is considerably
greater than of those bound in other materials, and the increase
according to size is also somewhat greater. One dollar is the highest
price paid within the knowledge of the writer for an eight-inch morocco
book, and sixty cents the lowest price. The difference in the value of
the work about corresponds to the difference in price.
Periodicals bound in government cloth, or duck, may cost from fifty-five
cents to eighty cents a volume ten inches or less in height, increasing
fifteen cents to twenty cents a volume for every two inches in height.
Newspapers well bound should not cost less than $2.00 a volume, nor over
$4.00. More variations will be found in the prices for newspapers than
in any other kind of binding.
Most binders are paid a certain amount for books eight inches high or
less, the prices differing according to the material used. The price in
a few cases increases with each inch or fraction thereof in height to
ten inches; in most cases the increase is for each two inches or
fraction. For example, a book which measures eight and one quarter
inches in height is charged for at the ten inch rate. One which measures
ten and one quarter inches at the twelve inch rate. Sometimes an extra
charge for books which are much thicker than usual is justified.
The following schedule covers practically all the different sizes and
materials which the librarian must take into consideration. The prices
given are those actually charged by a good library binder.
REBINDING
Adult and Juvenile and Miscellaneous Books Not Exceeding 2 Inches in
Thickness
8 in. 9 in. 10 in. 12 in.
Half Pigskin or Cowhide 45 55 65 85
Full Cloth (Library Buckram) 40 50 60 80
Full Imperial Morocco Cloth 45 55 65 85
Extra sizes
14 in. 16 in. per inch
Half Pigskin or Cowhide 1.10 1.30 20 cents
Full Cloth (Library Buckram) 1.00 1.20 15 cents
Full Imperial Morocco Cloth 1.10 1.30 20 cents
Books over 2 inches thick charged at rate of size above.
Magazines, Periodicals, Sheet and Folio Music Not Exceeding 4 Inches in
Thickness
8 in. 9 in. 10 in. 12 in.
Full Cloth (Lib. Buck.) or Full Duck 45 55 65 85
Full Imperial Morocco Cloth 50 60 70 95
Half Cowhide 50 65 85 1.10
Half Pigskin (English) 55 70 90 1.15
Half Pigskin (American) 50 65 85 1.10
Half Morocco 65 80 1.00 1.25
Half Duck (Waterproof sides) 45 55 65 85
Extra sizes
14 in. 16 in. per inch
Full Cloth Lib. Buck. or Full Duck 1.10 1.35 15 cents
Full Imperial Morocco Cloth 1.20 1.45 20 cents
Half Cowhide 1.30 1.60 20 cents
Half Pigskin (English) 1.35 1.65 20 cents
Half Pigskin (American) 1.30 1.60 20 cents
Half Morocco 1.50 1.85 25 cents
Half Duck (Waterproof sides) 1.10 1.35 15 cents
Above prices include all lettering on books.
Books over 4 inches thick charged at rate of size larger.
Newspapers not over 30 inches, in half library buckram or half duck
$2.25, or in full duck, $2.40.
Special prices for dictionaries, cyclopedias and other sizes not in
above schedules.
SUGGESTIONS FOR REDUCING COST
Following is a statement of plans for cutting down the cost of binding,
a few of them being obviously makeshifts for the benefit of poor or very
small libraries.
BOOKS BOUND BEFORE PURCHASE
Under this head will be found (in Chapter 6) a full statement of reasons
for buying books bound from the sheets.
REPRINTS BOUND BEFORE PURCHASE
The cheap reprints of popular novels which cost less than one-half as
much as the original edition, although attractive in appearance, are
very poorly bound and if bought in original covers must be rebound
within a short time after they are first placed on the shelves. Some
librarians find that it pays to send orders for books which can be
obtained in cheap reprints directly to their binders, who buy the books
and rebind them in the regular half-leather binding which the library
uses for its rebound fiction and juvenile. He bills the books to the
library at the cost of the volume plus the cost of binding, the total in
any event being considerably less than one dollar. Not over ninety cents
should be paid and eighty-five cents is the general price for such
books. In this way the library gets a book in a good, strong library
binding for less than the cost of the original edition in publisher's
cover. Furthermore all labor involved in sending the book to the bindery
and receiving it again--no inconsiderable item--is eliminated.
SECOND-HAND BOOKS
Akin to the foregoing plan is the practice which some libraries have of
sending lists of replacements to dealers in second-hand books and having
all books obtained in this way rebound at once before putting them into
circulation. Moreover this arrangement eliminates the time and labor
necessary to send a book to the bindery. Binderies in large cities can
undertake to supply second-hand books, with advantages both to
themselves and to the libraries employing them. The library is relieved
from the necessity of searching for second-hand volumes, while the
binder can well afford to do this service for a stated price per volume
which will be reasonable from the library point of view, but which will
allow the binder profit on all books which he can find at very cheap
prices. When such a plan is adopted the binder should understand that
the library wants neither the cheap books printed on wretched paper and
having very small print, nor the very fine editions with colored
illustrations.
REINFORCEMENTS
A reinforced book is one which has been removed from the original
publisher's cover, strengthened in various ways and put back into the
same cover. (See chapter on this subject, page 108.) In its best form it
means the complete resewing of the book with an overcast stitch. It is
advisable to buy such books frequently, since they preserve the
attractive publisher's cover and since they can also be recovered by the
library itself without resewing. Statistics kept by the Wilmington
Institute Free Library show that such books when properly recovered give
as good relative service as those which have been bound before purchase.
The main advantage lies in the elimination of the time necessary to send
them to the bindery and the greater length of service which they give at
the height of their popularity.
RECOVERING AT THE LIBRARY
Many books which come to the binding department require rebinding in
order to put them into the best condition, but the books will be used so
little that rebinding would not pay. In the numerous cases in which the
sewing is in good condition it will be possible to recover them at the
library and letter them by hand. In cases where the sewing is poor it
will be possible to resew and recover. Such books are neither so strong
nor so attractive as books which have been wholly rebound, but they can
be recovered at an expenditure of less than fifteen cents a volume, as
against forty to fifty cents a volume for binding, and are in
sufficiently good condition to wear a long time, perhaps as long as the
library needs them. (For description of the process of recovering see
page 185.)
DISCARDING VALUELESS BOOKS
In the preceding case it has been taken for granted that the books in
question add something to the resources of the library and that they
must be kept. Books that have outlived their usefulness because they
have been superseded by later editions, or by other books more
authoritative, in all except the largest libraries should be discarded.
(For arguments in favor of this see Chapter 8, p. 131.)
LEATHER VS. CLOTH
Notwithstanding that he is repeating himself, the writer wishes to
emphasize one point. It may almost be made a general rule, though like
other rules, it will not work well at all times. Never bind a seldom
used book in leather, or a much used one in cloth.
CHEAP EDITIONS
Money may be saved by replacing books which need rebinding with good
editions cheaper than the cost of binding. (See (_f_), page 129.)
PROPER CARE
The life of the book in the library may be prolonged in several ways.
1. In opening the leaves of uncut books at the top the paper knife
should be carried to the back of the book, using a dull knife that is
thin, long and tapering.
2. Many books should be carefully opened before being placed on the
shelves. This is done by resting the book on its back and dropping the
covers on the table. Taking a few leaves at a time first at the front
and then at the back, press them down carefully until the middle of the
book is reached. If this be done there is little chance that the back of
the book will be broken if the book is suddenly opened.
3. Books should not be pressed tightly together on the shelves.
4. They should not be piled on other books resting on their fore-edge.
5. They should not be pulled from the shelves by the head bands.
6. They should be dusted frequently.
7. They should be kept upright on the shelves instead of half-fallen
over.
8. In every way they should be handled as if they were books, not
bricks.