Library Bookbinding Part 13

Many periodicals, especially those of a scientific character, contain plates which are not paged-in. If these are scattered through the text they may be allowed to stay there, but if they are grouped together at the end of each number they should be placed together in proper order at the end of the complete volume.

The vagaries of periodical publishers are shown as much in the way in which they issue (or do not issue) t.i.tle-pages and indexes as in any other way. The proper way, which is seldom done, is to issue both t.i.tle-page and index in the last number of each volume. Some publishers issue them in the first number of the next volume; some at various times during the publication of the succeeding volume. Some publish a t.i.tle-page at the beginning of the first number of a volume and an index when the spirit moves. Some publish a t.i.tle-page but no index or table of contents. Others publish a t.i.tle-page and table of contents but do not send them unless requested to do so. Many publish neither t.i.tle-page nor index, and perfectly reputable periodicals which have published these essential parts of a periodical for twenty years or more will suddenly cease publishing them. It is evident that t.i.tle-pages and indexes are nuisances in preparing periodicals for the bindery.

The a.s.sistant in charge should keep a record showing (_a_) which publishers must be asked to send t.i.tle-pages and indexes, and this should be done as soon as possible after the volumes are complete; (_b_) in which number of a periodical t.i.tle-pages and indexes may be looked for if they come regularly; (_c_) which periodicals do not publish t.i.tle-pages and indexes.

If lack of funds makes it impossible to bind periodicals and they must be wrapped in paper it is highly important that t.i.tle-pages and indexes be included, since it may be impossible to obtain them when funds permit binding.

Changes in the size of periodicals are a cause of annoyance. The annoyance is not great when the change is from a large quarto to an octavo, for the cost of binding an octavo is considerably less than that of a quarto. Unfortunately, the present tendency is almost wholly the other way. Many periodicals, for years published in a comfortable octavo size have been changed to a much larger size. This in itself is exasperating, but in addition the publishers apparently make no effort to change the size with the beginning of a new volume, so that part of a volume will be of one size and part of another. In such cases the troubles of the binding a.s.sistant may be readily imagined.

While it is highly important to bind only complete volumes of periodicals, it is occasionally permissible to bind volumes with guards for missing numbers which may be inserted later if they are obtained.

This method makes it possible to put a volume into permanent form better suited for use than unbound numbers, and prevents further loss of numbers already in hand. It can be done only when the numbers are very thin, particularly in the case of newspapers.

Quite a number of periodicals have so few pages in each number that a complete volume makes a very thin book. In such cases it is best to bind two volumes in one at the cost of one.

Among other material which pa.s.ses through the hands of a binding a.s.sistant are the annual reports of various organizations--religious, charitable, fraternal, governmental, etc. In large libraries these must be bound for permanent preservation. In small libraries the annual reports of all local organizations should be bound if funds permit, others wrapped in paper and lettered on the wrapper. Whether they are to be bound or wrapped in paper, they should be grouped by regular periods, preferably five or ten reports in a volume, according to size, following the decades or half decades.

INSTRUCTIONS TO THE BINDER

Having decided that the volume must be bound and having arranged it in its proper order, the next step is to indicate to the binder how it is to be bound and lettered. Various methods have been used to indicate style and lettering. Some libraries have an elaborate binding slip, giving on one side the different materials, colors, etc., and having the other divided into panels for lettering. A slip is made for each book and the binder follows it carefully. Some libraries arrange an arbitrary system with the binder making one letter or figure indicate much that otherwise would have to be written in full. For example, "C" under such an arrangement might mean "Bind in one-half red cowhide with green cloth sides." Some librarians give a general blanket order to bind all fiction in one way and all juvenile books in another.

For most books in English, except periodicals, lettering need not be indicated on a binding slip. All that is necessary is to underscore lightly on the t.i.tle page the first letter of words which must be used.

The call number may be put on a binding slip enclosed in the book, or in the case of fiction and juvenile books, it may be penciled lightly on the t.i.tle page, thus doing away altogether with the binding slip. If there is a chance for misunderstanding on the part of the finisher, or if an author's real name must be used instead of a pseudonym which appears on the t.i.tle page, a binding slip must be filled out giving exact lettering.

While exact lettering on a binding slip is not essential for ordinary books, it is necessary for periodicals, each set of which should be bound and lettered uniformly. This may be a.s.sured by making out a binding slip giving in full the t.i.tle, dates covered, volume number and call number, if one is used. The slip goes to the bindery with the book, and when the volume is returned is filed so that when the next volume is to be bound the slip can be consulted and a new one written with the necessary changes in volume number and dates. The chief value of the slip is to show exactly how the previous volume has been bound, so that the following volumes can be made uniform if possible.

A carbon copy of binding slips for periodicals should be made, to be kept at the library for charging purposes.

When binding volumes which are a part of a set, other than a periodical, a slip must be made to be kept on file so that when another volume of the set comes to hand it will not be necessary to visit the shelves to see whether other volumes have been bound and how they have been bound.

In finishing periodicals the position of lettering and the size of type used may be kept uniform if the binder takes what is called a "rub" or "rub-off" of the book after it is lettered and keeps it on file at the bindery. This can easily be made by laying a sheet of thin, but tough, paper over the back and rubbing it with shoemaker's heel-ball which will show white lettering on a black background. When the next volume comes to the bindery the "rub-off" shows exact height of boards, exact position of lettering and size of type.

A few libraries have had a dummy back made for each periodical showing color and kind of material in addition to other details. But the cost of a dummy is not slight and a new one must be made whenever any change in t.i.tle or size occurs. Large college or reference libraries may need dummy backs for their numerous sets of foreign periodicals having various marks, such as umlauts, etc., over or under letters. When a library operates its own bindery it is possible to send the last bound volume as a sample. While this adds much to the routine, its main advantage is that it eliminates the possibility of mistakes due to defective dummy or indistinct "rub-off."

LETTERING

It is necessary that binders understand exactly how books are to be lettered, what kind of type to use and the position on the back of the book which each item of information must have. There are differences of opinion as to the best ways of lettering, but it is essential that every librarian have uniformity in his own library, even if he disagrees with his fellow workers. In all lettering a bold, clear type should be used, and all figures should be in Arabic, since it is plainer than Roman.

In most leather bindings the back is divided into five or six panels, making it possible to obtain uniformity by setting aside each panel for a definite purpose. If desired, another narrow panel may be made in which to stamp a mark of ownership. Paneling is a useful device in the case of books which are eight inches or more in height, but in the case of juvenile books and fiction it may be omitted entirely. As most of these books require simply author, t.i.tle and call number, if one be used, the device of paneling adds to the labor in binding and serves no useful purpose in the library. It should be used on most other books bound in leather and on all periodicals bound in cloth or duck.

Which shall go at the top of the book, author or t.i.tle? In favor of the t.i.tle it can be claimed that all publishers letter the t.i.tle first with the author second; and since in non-fiction the books in publishers'

covers on the shelves will outnumber the rebound books, it is advisable to put the t.i.tle first in order to have uniformity. On the other hand, it can be claimed that the arrangement under the cla.s.s is by author, that most library a.s.sistants look for the author rather than the t.i.tle, and that it is therefore advisable to put the most important item of information at the top in the position of greatest prominence. In the opinion of the writer this advantage outweighs any other.

It may be a.s.sumed, therefore, that the best arrangement is author, t.i.tle, volume number if necessary, and call number. In the case of fiction, juvenile books and all other books from which it seems desirable to omit panels, these items will be put on with sufficient s.p.a.ce between to make them independent of each other. The bottom of the call number should be 1-1/4 or 1-1/2 inches from the tail of the book on all books in the library, except oversized books, which should have the call number at the top (Fig. 16). If panels are used, the author's name should be near the bottom of the first panel, the t.i.tle in the second, volume number in the fourth and call number in the fifth (Fig. 15).

If two books are bound together, letter, author and t.i.tle of the second book in the third panel (Fig. 17).

When a work is in more than one volume with separate t.i.tles for each volume, place the author's name in the first panel, general t.i.tle in the second, volume in the third and the t.i.tle of the particular volume in the fourth (Fig. 18).

If six panels are used, each item is dropped one panel.

In most cases the author's last name is sufficient, but occasionally it may be necessary to use initials to distinguish between authors having the same name. Use both surnames of joint authors (Fig. 19). For pseudonyms use the form adopted by the cataloging department. For example, if the catalog entry is under Clemens instead of Twain, letter Clemens on the book. Both real name and pseudonym may be put on the back, but it does not seem necessary. In the case of the cla.s.sics add the name of translator or editor in the panel under the t.i.tle (Fig. 20).

+------------+ +------------+ +------------+ +------------+ 914.5 Beecher qJ 23 Patton Bancroft James +------------+ +------------+ +------------+ +------------+ Home Sermons Italian And School Works Hours Sewing +------------+ +------------+ +------------+ +------------+ Rarer Hot Weather 30 Dishes +------------+ +------------+ +------------+ +------------+ 1 Oregon 2 +------------+ +------------+ +------------+ +------------+ 252 641 979.5 B 398 R 694 B 22 +------------+ +------------+ +------------+ +------------+ +------------+ +------------+ +------------+ +------------+

Fig. 15 Fig. 16 Fig. 17 Fig. 18

+------------+ +------------+ +------------+ +------------+ Kipling National Balestier Plato Conference on City Planning +------------+ +------------+ +------------+ +------------+ Nineteenth Naulahka Dialogues Proceedings Century +------------+ +------------+ +------------+ +------------+ Jowett 1 +------------+ +------------+ +------------+ +------------+ 1 Chicago +------------+ +------------+ +------------+ +------------+ Jan.-June 888 352 1894 K 575 P 69 N 23 35 +------------+ +------------+ +------------+ +------------+ +------------+ +------------+ +------------+ +------------+

Fig. 19 Fig. 20 Fig. 21 Fig. 22

+------------+ +------------+ +------------+ +------------+ Nature ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ National Littel's Munic.i.p.al Living Independent Review Age ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ Nov. 1895 Apr. 1896 53 ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ Apr.-June July-Sep. 1903 1913 1888 55 2 178 Part 2 ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ Series 5 63 ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ +------------+ +------------+ +------------+ +------------+

Fig. 23 Fig. 24 Fig. 25 Fig. 26

+------------+ +------+ +------------+ +------------+ Griggs ------------ ------------ ------------ Use Harper's Punch of Magazine Monist the ------------ Margin ------------ ------------ 170-G ------------ 87 ------------ ------------ 1882 Index 1908 82-83 1-40 18 ------------ ------------ ------------ Index 1-17 ------------ ------------ ------------ +------------+ +------+ +------------+ +------------+

Fig. 27 Fig. 28 Fig. 29 Fig. 30

When the names of foreign cities or countries must be placed in the author panel, use the English form. Names of government departments, bureaus, etc., should be inverted if necessary to bring the distinctive word first. For example, use Health bureau, not Bureau of health.

In lettering t.i.tles it is seldom desirable to omit the first part of the t.i.tle in order to use words which are more distinctive, in other words, to use a binder's t.i.tle. If it is necessary it should be done with care and discrimination. Ordinarily, give first words, omitting articles.

Very long t.i.tles must be condensed, sometimes at the expense of clearness.

Proceedings of organizations which meet in different cities should have the name of the place of the meeting lettered in the third panel (Fig.

21).

On periodicals, the author panel is left vacant and the t.i.tle of the periodical given in full in the second panel. Here it is never permissible to omit first words, except articles. Letter "American review of reviews," not "Review of reviews." In case of foreign periodicals it may be necessary to place a sub-t.i.tle in the third panel when a periodical is issued in two or more parts and each part bound separately with a distinct t.i.tle page. With this exception, leave the third panel vacant and letter date and volume number in the fourth panel. Place first the months covered by the volume, followed by the year (Figs. 22 and 23.) Use the first three letters of each month, except June and July, which should be given in full. On foreign periodicals use the English abbreviations for months. If the volume covers the calendar year the months may be omitted (Fig. 24). In the same panel place the volume number beneath the year.

If the periodical has more than one series give dates and total volume number, placing underneath the series number and volume of series (Fig 25).

If the unbound volume of a periodical is too large to be bound in one book, bind it in two volumes and letter the exact months in each part, placing "Part 1" and "Part 2" underneath the volume number (Fig. 26).

If two volumes are bound in one give the inclusive volume numbers (Fig.

27).

In the case of periodicals having more than one series and which are indexed in Poole's index or the Readers' guide, the volume number given first should correspond with the one given in the indexes.

Thin volumes must be lettered lengthwise in the same order as outlined above. Always letter from head to tail. This facilitates reading on the shelves, since shelves are naturally read from left to right. In lettering lengthwise place the book number below the cla.s.s number, if there is room, if not, after the cla.s.s number with a hyphen between (Fig. 28).

Oversized books which must be shelved on their sides should also be lettered from head to tail.

If the book is an index complete in itself letter the word "Index" in the fourth panel, followed by the inclusive volume numbers covered by the index (Fig. 29).

If a periodical index covering several volumes is included at the end of one of the volumes, place the word Index and the inclusive volume numbers underneath the dates and regular volume number (Fig. 30).