MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES
Policy and Procedure Statement 2.1
Binding Preparation
January 2002

The Binding Preparation Unit is responsible for performing six major functions:

A.      Sorting and preparing material for the commercial binder, with processing for check-in and quality control upon return.

1)      Preparing and processing for the commercial binder selected books, serials and periodicals bound for the Main Library and the Branch Libraries. In addition, it has the responsibility to shelve and maintain unbound serials for East and West Stacks, create binding records for same, claim missing issues, determine when they are ready to bind and take them to the Stacks Binding clerk for processing.

All cataloged monographs sent to the commercial binder will be barcoded in Binding Preparation Unit and charged out to Binding. Upon return from the commercial binder the material will be checked in as part of the processing. Some serials and periodicals, for designated Library units and Branches, will also be barcoded in Binding Preparation and charged out to Binding, and will be checked in upon return from the commercial binder.

2)      The foil color for stamping of the spine will be in white for all materials and all collections in the Library system.

3)      In order to standardize binding preparation and preserve the physical integrity of serial volumes, binding collation will be done consistent with industry standards and in conformity with the prevailing binding contract.

4)      Types of binding for the various Library materials, while flexible enough to accommodate the requirements of different collections, fall into the following general categories:

Softbound books - journals - hardcover rebind/recase -Flex-M - music scores - music folders -book boxes - pamphlet binding

5)      The responsibility for the initial sorting and preparation of materials to be bound belongs to the various collections areas. East and West Stacks materials are the responsibility of the Stacks Binding clerk in Binding Preparation. Serials and periodicals sent to Binding Preparation are to be arranged in bindable increments, the ssues to be bound under one cover tied with a binding twine. Each bindable unit is to be accompanied by a binding slip listing name of the originating department, title, call number, volume number, issue number and/or other specific variable information, as well as color and title code number for journals previously bound. "Post-printed" binding slips, sent to the departments each time one of their journals is bound, are to be reused when sending subsequent parts to be bound.

Monographs sent to Binding Preparation to be bound need not be accompanied by a binding slip. However, if part of a previously bound set, the desired color code needs to be indicated for the buckram cover.

Old and damaged books belonging to Main or Branch Libraries collections, whether hardcover or softbound, come to Binding Preparation for assessment of their condition and determination of treatment options.   Depending on the condition of the book as well as any artifactual consideration, it will be determined if the piece can be rebound, recased, shrink wrapped, if it needs to go to Collections Conservation, or directed to Collection Renewal for evaluation of possible withdrawal or reformatting.

6)      Bibliographic spine information on bound serial volumes:

The spines of bound serials are to indicate specific identifying information which corresponds to the bibliographic information present on title pages or title page equivalents. When a bibliographic volume is bound in more than one physical volume or when it is bound incomplete, additional identifying information is needed on the spine. The spine information will also be used as a bibliographic descriptor for the item record in the on-line catalog.

7)      The Binding Preparation Unit will attempt to process all material received in a quick and efficient manner in order to prepare it, as time and quantities permits, for the next commercial bindery pick-up. The binder has a weekly schedule of pick-ups and deliveries. Turn-around time at the commercial bindery is two (2) weeks.

Upon return from the commercial binder, the material is processed, inspected, stamped, checked in on Magic, and returned to, or picked up by, the appropriate destination.

8)      The Binding Preparation Unit will handle only official binding belonging to the collections and sent by the various Library units, sections and Branches.

If binding assistance is requested by other parts of the University, they should be referred to the Purchasing Department or to the handout maintained in Preservation.

Individual Library staff members or other University staff wanting information concerning binding of their personal books and periodicals may be given the name and phone number of the local bindery, Binding Unlimited, which is willing to handle small personal orders.

B.      Sorting, selecting and preparing material for the commercial deacidification laboratory and check-in processing upon return.

The Binding Preparation Unit is charged with administering the Library’s deacidification program. All newly received softbound books as well as selected hardbound monographs and some periodicals already in the Stacks are checked for the Ph level of the paper, and the ones that test acidic (below a Ph of 6.0) are processed in Binding Preparation and sent to a commercial deacidification Laboratory. New softbound books that are not acidic are stamped with an infinity mark on the head of the book. The ones that are deacidified commercially are stamped with the ‘D’ for deacidification upon return to the Library.

C.      Administering the Libraries binding and Preservation photocopy budgets.

The Libraries binding budget is allocated to 25 separate administrative units throughout the Main Library and Branch Libraries. In addition to binding, there is a deacidification budget and a preservation photocopying budget, all monitored and administered through the Head of Binding Preparation.

D.      Selecting, processing and automated labeling of new softbound books destined for the Stacks.

1)      The Binding Preparation Unit  inspects all newly cataloged softbound books and sorts, according to established guidelines, those books that need immediate binding and those that will go to the Stacks, unbound, following labeling.

2)      Labeling of softbound books is done in the Binding Preparation Unit, with the aid of an automated labeling machine connected to the Magic online catalog. The books are bar coded prior to labeling, and security tape and date due slips are inserted as part of the labeling process.

E.      Selecting, processing and shrink wrapping brittle material which cannot be rebound or repaired and needs to be maintained for the collection.

Print material that circulated is reviewed in Binding Preparation. Those that are too brittle to be repaired and yet need to be maintained in the collection are earmarked for shrink wrapping.  The first step in this process is to send the material to Data Cat to have a duplicate barcode affixed to the back cover.  Then the material gets the shrink wrapping process, and is returned to Stacks.  After three shrink wrappings, the material is set aside for Collection Review.

F.       Selecting and performing pamphlet binding of small booklets, indices and other appropriate print material.

Books and some indices published in single signature format and consisting of fewer than 80 pages, stapled together, are pamphlet bound on specialized equipment in Binding Preparation.  Security tape and date due slip are inserted, a barcode is created and  automated labeling is done in Binding Preparation or the pamphlet is sent to the labeling unit as appropriate, prior to shelving.