Re: [BKARTS] Book Repairs in Libraries

[Kevin Driedger <ksdriedger@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

My reply would be very similar to Dorothy's. When I did repair work at a public library I pretty much stopped using these slips. They served best to tell me which page was torn, missing or marked up.

When I do repair workshops for library staff I encourage them to instruct their staff how to identify different types of damage. The front desk checkin people are the folks most likely to notice the damage. While I understand the ease of use, one reason I don't like libraries putting barcodes on the outside of books is it keeps the staff from ever having to open the book. I always encourage staff if they have some quiet moments to just leaf through books because closed covers can cover a multitude of sins.

Kevin Driedger
Lansing, Michigan.

-----Original Message-----
From: Dorothy Africa <africa@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Mar 2, 2004 9:26 AM
To: BOOK_ARTS-L@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [BKARTS] Book Repairs in Libraries

I job share with another person at a fairly large (1.8 million volumes) 
library.  She does open stack material repair, I do special 
collections.  For open stack materials we have a repair slip that indicates 
the general nature of the problem, such as torn pages at ----------, or 
reback, mend at.---------, etc.   For the special collections materials, 
there is a problem's shelf in the closed stack area where items are left 
with a brief note such as box, rebind, reattach, etc.  I evaluate the item 
and consult with the relevant curator if necessary.  I don't know how often 
my coworker chooses a different repair than the one identified on the 
repair slip.

  In my personal opinion, check lists for specific repairs are only useful 
when the people using them are  knowledgeable.  Most of the library staff 
here knows very little about book repair and people often use the wrong 
terms or mistake the kind of repair needed. It is much better to ask them 
to identify the problem than the solution.  This is not to fault them, but 
just to point out that it is unfair to ask them to evaluate in 
ignorance.  A torn spine does not always necessitate a reback, and 
sometimes just mending a hinge when the whole book is about to fall out of 
the binding is not sufficient.
    Some librarians here are happy to talk about a specific repair, but 
most just want the problem to 'go away' and are not interested in how it is 
done, ditto for the rest of the staff.  I certainly am the same.  I care 
that the call number means I can find the book, and have no real interest 
on the way it is arrived at, though I have some general knowledge of the LC 
system.



At 02:25 PM 3/1/2004, you wrote:
>I have been asked to teach a short workshop on basic book repairs at one of
>our Community Colleges.  I was wondering if you could share with me what
>your institution uses as a check-list that helps the book technician or book
>conservator know what is wrong with the book.  Do you call it a Repair
>Checklist or a Condition Report?  I am looking to give the librarians
>something that they could insert in each book that will clearly and
>instantly let the next person know what specific repairs need to be done.
>
>With thanks,
>Mercedes
>Toronto, CANADA
>
>Email:  pantheon.group@xxxxxxxxxxxx
>
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