How to repair old books

I was reading though For The Love Of Books (the Blog for Biblio) the other day and they had a great article on cleaning and repairing ex-library books.  Which, as they mention, is a great skill to have when you find books that are neat or interesting but don't necessarily have a great monetary value.  The day I find an ex-library Hemingway first I’m taking it straight to a specialist but in the mean time I shall pay heed to these valuable tips:

Never forget that the more effective the cleaner, the more abrasive it can be, and the wearier the book, the more it must be spared abrasive cleaning methods. Start with the usual soft cloth, then move on as needed to the Artgum eraser and other famous brand names in the field.

If you're determined to remove a library pocket, you can try such products as un-du Label and Tape Remover, followed by a minute or two of low heat from a hairdryer. The multipurpose Document Cleaning Pad can help in removing residue.

Rehabilitate enough library books, and you'll become intimately acquainted with rubber cement. To cope with its removal, try a long-lasting crepe rubber eraser called Pik-Up, which works on many other adhesives, too.

Then they go on to describe some products and tricks for restoring dust jackets...

If you want more information on book care AbeBooks has an interview with Brodart Book Supplies and Littera Scripta also has a pretty good summary on book care.

If any of our readers have done any book restorations themselves and have before and after photos I would be most interested in seeing what an armature restoration job can accomplish.

(edit) - The book Helen suggested, in her comment below, is Book Repair for Booksellers by J. Godsey, in case any of you were looking for it.

[Now reading: Enders Game by Orson Scott Card]

Comments

[Helen Crow]

Check out BOOK REPAIR FOR BOOKSELLERS by Bookfinder participant J. Godsey. Now in its third edition, it has been "the last word" for many of us doing book repairs!

Try it. You'll be pleased! See it at http://sicpress.com/

[Susan]

This may be in some of the links (hope it is) but, if not, well, this should be emphasized.
I work at a library, and, of course, the pages are always coming loose, often half a book's worth. The tech assistant before me used to use book tape, scads of it, but I found glue works much, pages don't have that tendency to jut out that they get after you tape it, book doesn't look warped, etc.... Anyone who's tried to put a page back in that's fallen out of a paperback will know what I mean. The scary thing is that even my boss, who has a M. L. S. and has been there since I was a baby, never thought of that and has positively ruined a couple of our books--
Even children's paperback picture books, which are usually meant to open to be completely flat, can be glued and still look like new, as long as you use a very small brush, and put the glue only where the back of the loose pages will lie.
I use glue from The Library Store, but I bought some from home from Brodart, and they work about the same. Oh, and whatever you glue with this stuff, it's never coming apart, so make sure you don't splash.

[prying1]

Susan's recommendation of gluing in loose pages is ALMOST spot on. HOWEVER, using an Elmer's type white glue is NOT the way to do it. Elmer's and other formulas like it will harden and then crack later on. Avoid using glues that harden.

A white padding compound (as used on scratch pads) is the way to go. I will suggest you not get the red stuff. Padding compound remains flexible and dries very clear. Printer supply stores have it as do some arts and craft stores.

Practice makes perfect and learning the right amount to use can only come with practice. If you use too much it squeezes up between the pages when you close the book which you have to do while the glue sets and dries. Too little and the page(s) may fall out again. After gluing and closing the book wait an hour or two before reopening it to see what a fine job you have done.

[Raleigh Home Renovations]

Now this is hghly recommeded post for me. I will surely email this to my friend.

Regards
Natalie

[Sandi LuJane]

I am looking for an old MLS book from Aug/Sept 1996 for Orange County, Ca (Laguna Niguel area ) that real estate agents used. Anyone know whereabouts or anyone who may have kept them in their archives or libraries. Please e-mail me at tigergal1973@yahoo.com. Very important.
Thanks much
Sandi

[Nic]

If you're lucky enough to have a thermal binding machine or you know someone who has one, they're pretty good for repairing books too. Many's the time I've turned up on my sister's doorstep with a book cover and about a hundred pages... And many's the time her neighbours have been disturbed by her shrieking the address of the nearest Waterstones....

New books aren't the same though. You have to work hard to get them looking like they've been loved.

[Ian]

I have some first edition Hunter S. Thompson novels and they really need some TLC. This post is great and gives me a few ideas on how to start repairing the books.

[patricia lycett]

i have a book 1884 spine and front has come away it is called enquire within upon everything it si such an interesting book full of advice cooking and etiquette from the time