So Your Book Is Broken - Be Green and Consider Getting It Repaired!
Hopefully, my lens will help you decide if you want to trash your book, repair it yourself, or pay someone to fix it. This lens is my contribution to the environment and the efforts to go green.
Deciding to fix a book is quite like choosing if you should take your favorite pair of shoes in to be repaired. Your shoes after the repair will never be the same, but you will be able to wear them. Would it be better just to go buy a new pair? Maybe. If you have a good cobbler (peachy person who repairs shoes) it also might be a good deal.
Sometimes it is better to protect new shoes by putting taps on the heels or toes of those shoes before you wear them. The same is true of books-protect them before you use them. However, have you tried finding the book covers that libraries use? You cannot buy just one protective cover, you have to buy a case. Have you priced archival glue or proper book mending tape? Expensive for just one project.
BUT ONLY YOU CAN DECIDE IF YOUR BOOK IS WORTH THE COST OF THE REPAIR. Read on.
HOW I GOT INTERESTED IN REPAIRING BOOKS
Once upon a time, a friend asked me if I could repair his wife's cookbook. He had discovered that I used to work in a library. While working there, I had been trained to do minor book repairs.I told him I would try.
I spent over $100 getting the supplies to repair that old cookbook, but it was worth it to see his face when I returned the repaired tome. You see, the book was a textbook the wife had used in college--sentimental value. It also happened to be a really good cookbook. They had it put together with strapping tape. The cover was coming off and it was a real pain to use. But it was a darn good cookbook! To them it was worth the effort to repair it.
Thus was my book repair service born! Little Red Wagon Book Repair
This experience also reminded me how much I love the feel of an actual book.
IS YOUR BOOK IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO YOU TO REPAIR?
DECIDING TO REPAIR A BOOK IS A DIFFICULT CHOICE TO MAKE
Do you use a book everyday? Does it have sentimental value?Examples of sentimental value:
1. A cookbook that belonged to your Grandma with handwritten notations.
2. It is the novel that changed your life. You read it every year to renew your spirit.
3. It is the story book that your first child, who is now 30, loved with all his/her heart. Now you want to share it with a grandchild.
Examples of every day practical value:
1. It is the cookbook that you use everyday and has all of your own personal notations.
2. It is a repair manual for the restored vintage car that you drive.
3. It is your grandbaby's favorite board book and it is the ONLY book he/she wants to read at bedtime.
Most of all (I am repeating myself, I know), consider how much you are willing to spend on getting it fixed. Is that cost worth it to you?
What Is Wrong With Your Book
Basic Broken Book Problems
1. Individual pages are falling out or loose.2. Rips or tears on individual pages.
3. The hinge (see parts of a book illustration) is ripped--or the cover is coming off.
4. Corners of the cover (hardback book) are wearing thin and you can see the cardboard.
5. Corners of a paperback book are curled.
6. End papers (see illustration) are coming out.
7. The spine cover, the joint, etc. (see illustration) is torn or coming off.
8. One or more of the signatures (see illustration) in the textblock is falling out.
In other words, your favorite cookbook is just falling apart and won't go back together anymore. It is a pain to use. It embarrasses you to use it in front of your mother. On and on.
Do you replace it with a new book? Do you throw it out? Do you try to fix it yourself with duck tape and school glue?
What to do? What to do?
PARTS OF A BOOK
To help you communicate with someone who will repair your beloved book.
Parts of a Book On Video
For those of you who need to be shown the parts of a book!
REPAIR YOUR BOOK YOURSELF ONLY IF YOU DON'T CARE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE
I know, we all want and need to save $$$$
White school glue is not flexible. Using it will make the pages stiff. But if this does not matter to you, go ahead and use it. I have a friend who owns a used book store and he uses "Tacky Glue". He swears by it.
Do Not Do This--if you really care about your book!
An Article that might help you decide to repair the book yourself!
- Book collecting: How to repair a broken book binding - Antiques & Collecting - Helium - by Guinevere Shepherd
- Book repair is accessible to the ordinary person. One of the most common forms of book repair is called casing-in. This becom... by Guinevere Shepherd
- How to Repair a Damaged Book: Spine Repair, Tape Removal, Fix Loose and Torn Hinges - Associated Content
- Spine Repair, Tape Removal, Fix Loose and Torn Hinges
HOW TO REPAIR A TORN PAGE -- THE CORRECT WAY
The best way to mend a torn page is using Japanese paper. Book suppliers can sell you a variety of Japanese papers. The most common used is called Sekishu. To repair the page, apply a small amount of glue to where the torn ends are aligned. Tear off a piece of Japanese paper and lay it over the tear. (The Japanese paper looks more natural if torn as opposed to cutting) If you slightly dampen the paper before you tear it, the edges are more frayed and blend better on the page. The Japanese paper is thin enough that you can still see through it to read the text but it is also very strong.
Another way to repair a tear is to use PVA glue. See the video instructions below.
YouTube Videos on Book Repair
I use some of the same techniques.
PH Neutral PVA Adhesive- 4oz Bottle
PH Neutral PVA Adhesive- 4oz Bottle
Amazon Price: $3.99 (as of 10/13/2008)
I have not used this brand, but it looks like what an individual could use. Note that it is a 4 ounce bottle.
TACKY GLUE -- for do-it-yourself Book Repair
Aleene's Tacky Glue 8 oz.
Amazon Price: $3.99 (as of 10/13/2008)
Recommended by two bookseller friends of mine.
I bought some myself to test it out. It dries very flexible -- not stiff and hard. I have decided it is not good for repairing torn pages inside a book itself. You could probably use it with "Japanese" paper for fixing torn pages.
Otherwise, I would use a PVA glue.
CLEAR BOOK REPAIR TAPE -- for do-it-yourself repairs
Scotch® Book Tape 4 in x 15 yds
Amazon Price: $9.70 (as of 10/13/2008)
It is good to have wide tape to make sure you cover the entire spine. This tape is 4" wide.
The Care and Feeding of Books Old and New -- A Simple Repair Manual for Book Lovers
The Care and Feeding of Books Old and New: A Simple Repair Manual for Book Lovers
Amazon Price: $11.16 (as of 10/13/2008)
Don't Want to Repair Your Book? Then buy a new one!
IF it is still being published!
I have included cookbooks that I own and love on this list.
Barefoot Contessa Family Style: Easy Ideas and Recipes That Make Everyone Feel Like Family
I own this cookbook and use it all the time. Easy recipes and always good.
Amazon Price: $23.10 (as of 10/13/2008)
Barefoot in Paris: Easy French Food You Can Make at Home
I also own this one. The same is true!
Amazon Price: $23.10 (as of 10/13/2008)
Joy of Cooking: 75th Anniversary Edition - 2006
This is a book you might want to replace sometime. I own an edition that was purchased at least 30 years ago. I have repaired it and thus saved all my notes written in the margins.
I actually repaired this book. Go to my website to see a before picture.
Amazon Price: $23.10 (as of 10/13/2008)
OR YOU CAN SEND your beloved book TO SOMEONE WHO KNOWS HOW TO FIX IT!!!
Just be sure you want to save this particular book!
Sometimes it is cheaper to buy a new book. But if the book was your grandmother's, chances are it is not in print any longer.There are people and companies out there that do know how to fix your book, but it can be costly. Do an internet search to find someone. Usually, the companies that pop up want to rebind the book. Yikes!! Big bucks. Family Bibles are another kind of book that people want to save. Be prepared to fork out the dough (or communion waffers). But all that $$ is worth it if you want to preserve your book.
THESE COMPANIES CAN REPAIR OR RESTORE YOUR BOOK
My own personal web-biz is "Little Red Wagon Book Repair"
Leave a comment on my "book repair questions" if you know of some other links.
I am more than willing to list other companies who do quality work. There are also links put on this lens by Squidoo or Google for book repair companies. You might give them a try.
- Little Red Wagon Book Repair
- Give my web-biz a try! I only do basic repairs. Check out the links below if you have a valuable or antique book you need to have fixed.
- McSpadden Book Bindery
- Specializing in Restoration of Antiquaraian Books and Family Bibles. Located in Oklahoma
- Fine Bookbinding and Restoration
- The title says it all. Located in Maryville, TN
- Red Bird Bindery
- Redbird Bindery binds and repairs books by hand using a variety of old-style handbinding equipment and quality, archival-grade materials.
Website shows before and after photos. This is a company to send your antique books for repair.
Located in West Va.
BOOK SELLERS WHO SPECIALIZE IN HARD TO FIND TITLES
Orlean Books has its home in Virginia and is owned by a kind and intelligent husband/wife team. I understand that they have comic books for collectors!
Yellow House Books has a brick and mortar store in Great Barrington, MA. I am told that they have a great selection of children's books.
- Half.com / Shops / orleanbooks / Books
- Purchase on Half.com from orleanbooks and save on Shipping! Get great deals on products from categories
- Yellow House Books - Great Barrington - Massachusetts - Specializing in Art, children's, Metaphysical
- Yellow House Books - Yellow House Books was opened in 1991 in an appropriately yellow house on Main Street in Great Barrington, - Yellow House Books - Great Barrington - United States - Specializing in Art, children's, Metaphysical, Music, Photography
RECYCLE THAT OLD BOOK BY MAKING A HOLLOWED OUT BOOK
YOU CAN HIDE VALUABLES IN THIS DO-IT-YOURSELF PROJECT
- How to Make a Hollow Book in 13 Steps (with pictures) - wikiHow
- wikiHow article about How to Make a Hollow Book.
DO YOU HAVE A BOOK REPAIR QUESTION?
MAYBE SOMEONE CAN HELP
Have you ever had a book that you loved and it fell apart?
What did you do with it?
Are you wondering if your book can be fixed?
Or do you just want to say Hi?
Book Preservation
- Preservation & Conservation Links
- The Book Arts Web
.JPG)
