Library binding is a specialized form of book binding designed to produce books that will hold up to rigorous use. Bindings are designed to significantly extend the shelf life of printed material. Generally, no two books sent to the bindery are the same. Each book received must be evaluated and decisions made as to the most effective and efficient methods to apply in order to produce a high quality, attractive binding. There are over 100 different productions processes that may be applied to any given book. The average volume sent for binding will go through 35 distinct production processes before being returned to the library. We hope you will find this virtual tour informative.

1. Transforming the way we do business!
Located at the Berkeley campus, UC Library Bindery serves all ten University of California campuses.

2. Books are counted and
sized which organizes
materials efficiently
prior to entering the
production process.
Checking In

3. Designated volumes go through a preparation process before entering binding production to
insure that all print is preserved and the appropriate production processes will be applied to
create a durable and readable finished book. Serial preparation involves checking issue order,
inspecting trim/binding margins, and selecting the most appropriate method of leaf
attachment.
Preparation

4. Many old and worn books simply need new covers. If the text block is made up of signatures
which are affixed by sewing through the fold of the paper and the original sewing is intact,
then the original binding is preserved. The original worn cover is discarded and old glues and
spine reinforcement materials are carefully removed using steam and a knife. New end sheets
are affixed by sewing through the outer signatures of the text block. A new cloth case is
manufactured. This is referred to as New Case Only binding.
Steaming off covers

5. For New Case Only
books, new end sheets
are fixed by sewing
through the fold of the
existing outer
signatures and acid-
free folio endpapers.
Sew Through the Fold

6. In Mylar binding, paperback books are converted to hardcover bindings. Prior to entering the
production process Mylar books are sized and numbered on both the text block and cover to
insure books are properly matched to their covers. Original covers are removed and laminated
while the text block is rebound to meet Library Binding Standards.
Numbering Mylar Books

7. After covers are removed, excess glue is carefully scraped off and acid-free end sheets are
placed with each text block.
Removing Paperback Covers

8. After covers are removed,
they are clear laminated
with a paper backing.
They are later glued to
hard-milled cover boards
during the case making
process to create a new
hard cover.
Laminating Covers

9. The old binding is removed from books using a motorized guillotine cutter or milling blade.
Guillotine cutters are used for books with narrow gutter margins to insure that the greatest
possible amount of gutter margin is preserved. This helps to produce a book that is easier to
read and/or scan for copying.
Trimming Backs

10. Original serials bound as signatures do not have their backs cut. The signatures are placed on a
hand sewing loom and sewn by hand onto cotton tapes. This preserves the entirety of the
original binding margin and produces a book which “lays flat” when opened for ease of reading.
Leaf Attachment - Sewing through the fold by hand

11. Original serials with thin signatures are sewn together on a National Sewing Machine. This is a
faster sewing process than hand sewing.
Leaf Attachment - Sewing through the fold by machine

12. Books are glued at the spine after sewing and allowed to dry before finish trimming. This step
helps to consolidate the text block and adds durability and shelf life to the volume.
Gluing the Backs of Books Sewn Through the Fold

13. After the original book is printed
on uncoated paper stock with the
paper grain running parallel to the
binding margin, the book is
adhesive bound using an internally
plasticized polyvinyl acetate
adhesive (PVA). This is a special
process done in Library Bound
volumes. The book is clamped
and the pages fanned in both
directions with adhesive applied
to the spine. This process
effectively “tips” all of the pages
of a volume together. Finally, a
woven stretch cloth is applied to
the spine and wrapped around
onto the endpapers.
Leaf Attachment – Double Fan Adhesive Binding by Hand

14. Most books designated for double fan adhesive binding are placed on an Ultrabind. This highly
productive machinery is capable of performing “inline” seven distinct production steps
(milling, notching, endpaper registration, fan gluing, notch filling, affixing woven back liner,
flap folding). Utilizing automation, where possible, controls manufacturing costs.
Ultrabind

15. This binding process is used for about 50% of the books processed through the Library Bindery.
Books with cross grain paper, coated paper and stiff covers are designated for oversewing. This
is a modified form of side sewing where the original binding is removed and thin sections of
loose pages are side sewn one to the other. The sewing threads penetrate into the text block
along the binding margin approximately 3/16th” of an inch. This produces a very strong and
durable text block.
Leaf Attachment - Oversewing

16. An oversewn end sheet is
constructed with a strip of glue at
the binding margin which is folded
and tipped back to cover the
exposed sewing threads.
End Sheet Folding

17. Books ready for finish trim
After binding in the most appropriate binding method, books on a job
are stacked in sequence and ready for finish trimming

18. Finish Trimming
Text blocks are finish trimmed along the front, head and tail to clean all
edges and insure that the text block is square. The text block is not trimmed
for books with narrow trim margins. In that case, the end sheets are
trimmed flush to the text block.

19. Marking Up
Books are placed into the Bookmark machine and measured. Dimensions are
put on a server to interface with the Library Automated Retrieval System
(LARS) software application. These measurements are used to determine the
appropriate dimensions for the cover cloth. They are also used to calculate
the area available for lettering on the spine of the book cover.

20. Gluing Up
Oversewn books are glued at the spine after mark-up. This keeps threads
within the binding edge.

21. Rounding and Backing
Books are placed into the Rounder/Backer to form the spine and hinge of the
text block. Shaping the spine in this manner reduces stress on the binding
margin that occurs with use and adds to the shelve life of a bound book.

22. Rounded and Backed Spine

23. Board Cutting
Many library book binding processes must be accomplished by hand. Boards
are hand cut in pairs for every case that is produced at the library bindery.

24. Security Strips
Also called tattle tapes, these are applied to the text blocks after the books
are bound and trimmed. Security strips are an essential part of the security
systems employed by campus libraries to protect their collections.

25. Numbering Boards
Boards for cases are given a number that corresponds to a sequential number
that the text blocks received at a prior stage of the binding. This same
number is then applied to the cover boards and cover cloth for that book.
This insures that each book receives the proper cover or case.

26. Spine Pulling
The spine liner is a thin, acid free board that is individually pulled for each
book to match the thickness of the spine. The spine is used in the case
making process to form the spine of the finished cover or case.

27. Super Liner
Machine sewn books receive a woven cloth strip that wraps over the spine
and overlaps the end sheets. This consolidates the text block, protects the
sewing threads and adds additional strength to the joint area.

28. Data Entry
While the text blocks are moving through the production process, cover cloth
is being lettered in the computer room in preparation for the production of
the case of cover. Title and call number information is received from printed
binding slips, disc, or electronically over the internet. Text fit is performed
at these work station which defines the lettering location based on text block
measurement and/or a permanent record that is stored on our systems.

29. System 3 stamping machine w/ AT-1 Trimmer
Automated cloth stamping allows options for three foil colors and
automatically trims the cloth to the correct size to produce a consistent
turn-in for every book

30. Case Making - Autocase
The individual elements of each book case or cover (boards, spine, cloth or
laminated cover) are laid out using a case making gauge on an Autocase
machine. The Autocase compresses glued cover material to binders board
and folds the four side (or turn-in) in a 2-step process.

31. Finished Cases
Finished covers are delivered onto a conveyor belt and neatly stacked. You
can clearly see the boards, spine liner, and turn-in in this photo.

32. Case making with book cloth (Buckram or C-1 Cloth)
When making cloth covers or cases, the cloth material is passed through glue
rollers and the cover board is precisely placed onto the cloth with a case
making gauge.

33. Cut Corners
Corners are hand cut to reduce bulking of material at the four corners before
the cloth is turned in.

34. Folding the Corners In
The material is carefully folded at the corners before placing in the turn
edge machine.

35. Turn Edge Machine
The turn in is compressed to adhere the cloth and board together.

36. Press Rollers
A final pass of the finished case through these rollers ensure the cloth is well
applied to the cover board.

37. Rounding Covers
The spine is placed on a rounded warming iron to form the spine to the
rounded spine of the text block

38. Casing In
Books are opened up and placed on a saddle blade which lowers and applies
glue to the end sheets.

39. Casing In
The cover is placed and fitted over the text block that has been glued and
the book is now in its final form.

40. Casing In
Casing in - side view

41. Hydropress
Heated irons meet the joint and pressure is applied to compress the case to
the text block. This insures a solid adhesive bond between the text block
and the case or cover.

42. Inspection
Completed books receive a final quality inspection to insure they are ready
for the library shelves.

43. Packing
Finished materials are packed on a book truck for delivery back to the
library.

44. Shipment, ready for delivery –

45. Limited Circulation (LC) Binding
Midnight blue, embossed, 40 pt board is a durable material that provides
limited protection for materials that are not highly circulated at the
libraries.

46. Limited Circulation Binding (LC)
Buckram strips are applied that have been stamped with the title and call
number information.

47. Pamphlet Binding
Books are sized, inserted and wire stitched into an archival quality pamphlet
case.

48. Phase Box Construction
Generally, phase boxes are assembled with 2 pieces of cut and scored
archival board. These are used to protect valuable or rare material.

49. Phase Box Construction
Brass fasteners are hammered on and tie closed the finished phase box.

50. Kasemake Boxes
The clamshell box is a scalable design that uses measurements imported from
Excel to automatically cut and score corrugated or solid board.

51. Rounding Covers
Multiple boxes are arranged on a sheet at the computer. The Kasemake
machine cuts, scores and labels each piece.

52. For over 100 years, the Library Bindery has maintained a tradition of excellent service preserving the treasures
housed in the University of California library collections.
Our nimbleness, ability to adapt to the changing needs of our customers, skilled staff, and forward thinking
position the Library Bindery to be a relevant business partner of the UC system for years to come.