Not all books need to be conserved or repaired. In some instances rebinding or boxing is the better alternative, but how does one decide? Is what you have a book or an artifact? Click on the photographs for additional information on these points.
Conserved books do not look new. They should show their age and use, but can be used and passed down to future generations.
Conservation and repair are often more expensive than rebinding, but they preserve the books and allow you to see them as they were.
If a book was yours as a child, or your ancestor’s, or has historical value for other reasons, it is probably important to preserve its character as well as its contents.
Rebinding is more than just replacing the covers. It often involves delicate repairs to the outer pages of the book, and sometimes involves altering the book’s structure. Each rebinding projects needs to be carefully thought through in order to achieve the best result. All books are not the same, so all books cannot be treated the same way.
Placing a book, or other objects, in a box or enclosure is often the best solution to preserve it -- even if the item is also being conserved. Boxing protects the book from dirt, pollution, light and water damage, and also allows you to transport your book without causing stress to the binding.
This photograph shows the most common type of box called a drop spine box, or a clamshell box. Clicking on the picture will take you to further descriptions and images of a few different boxes and enclosures.
All enclosures are made one at a time to fit the exact dimensions of the item being boxed. Boxes and enclosures can be made to blend in with the books in your collection. They can also be decorative, and are commonly done with fine bindings as a means of extending the design beyond the binding.
