Book Repair and Pamphlet Binding Unit

Book Repair and Pamphlet Binding Unit

Editorial Note:

The Book Repair and Pamphlet Binding Unit became part of the University Library's Preservation and Conservation Program in 2001. However, several requests to keep the information from this site available led the Library to retain it for ongoing usage.

A Preservation Endeavor
at the University Illinois Library

Our mission is to preserve library materials. We treat circulating materials on which we perform a variety of tasks: repair books, mend covers, make boxes and portfolios for fragile materials and for items with multi-media formats such as cassettes and CD-ROMs. We hand bind pamphlets and place them in acid-free binders which protects them for optimal shelving. We also looseleaf-bind thick items such as government documents, insert loose or replacement pages, cut the page edges of new monographs so they may be opened, and so on.

Our Unit gives workshops and presentations for library staff on the proper care and handling of library materials. We train interested students and volunteers from the Graduate School of Library and Information Science in preservation techniques and methods. The Book Repair and Pamphlet Binding Unit of the UIUC Library has been headed by Norma Linton since its inception in 1989.

We repair only our library materials which number ten million items. In our supplies section, we have listed the names of the various tools and supplies which we use. In this same section, we have provided names and contact information for many of the vendors from whom we purchase our tools, supplies and equipment. To see illustrations of our procedures and treatments, go to the "Contents" section at the top, left hand corner of this page. For more information about the general preservation program at the University of Illinois, link here.

Contact information and feedback:
Norma Linton
Photography and Text by Norma Linton
Created: Fall, 1997