Help! This book needs TLC!

Submitted by Meredith Causey

Have you ever wondered what happens to a book you send to the Materials Department for repair? 

Each book is delivered to the appropriate Collection Development team member for review. Alexa, Kim, and Molly will look at each book and consider several factors: Is this book still popular? Is it still current and relevant? How bad is the damage? Can we still purchase a new copy of this book? We might decide to simply re-order a new one or we may send it to the book doctor for some TLC. 

Sometimes the AMH gets hungry and decides to take a bite out of a book. If all the pieces are present, we may decide to tape the cover back together using special "book tape" that won't discolor, crack, or peel. We can also use book tape on hardcover books with minor outer spine damage.

Sometimes the endpaper comes away from the cover or signature block, and we can add some cloth book hinge tape that creates a permanent bond that allows for movement. The tape also resists water, chemicals, moisture, and fraying.

If a page or two has fallen out, we can use Norbond to "tip" the page back into place.

If a cover begins to separate from the end pages, we can use liquid adhesive and a wooden repair stick to glue it back into place.

If a block of pages begins to separate from the cover, the book can spend 10 minutes or so in our amazing glue machine and come out healed!

If the cover of a book has some worn corners, we can apply Reddi-Corners to make the book last a little longer.

If a paperback book cover is a little creased or worn on the corners, we can apply a corner protector to the inside of the book cover to provide some reinforcement to the cover.