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VOLUME 8
NO.1
Archival Products
NEWS
Paper Splitting as a Preservation Option
by Margit J. Smith
P
APER SPLITTING HAS BEEN
practiced since the middle of the
19th century. In 1901 Douglas
Cockerell, in Bookbinding and the Care of
Books, writes that
“The paper to be split should be well pasted Paper splitting
on both sides with a thickish paste, and fine has been
linen or jaconet placed on each side. brought to a
It is then nipped in the press to make the
linen stick all over, and left to dry. If the high degree of
Paper splitting machine at Zentrum Für Buch-Erhaltung,
two pieces of jaconet are carefully pulled Leipzig, Germany sophistication
apart when dry, half the paper should be
Edith Diehl in her book Bookbinding, Its with the newest
attached to each, unless at any point the
Background and Technique, gives similar mechanized
paste has failed to stick, when the paper will
instructions adding only that the cambric paper splitting
tear. The jaconet and paper attached must
(instead of jaconet) is to overlap the paper
be put into warm water until the machine.
all around to facilitate separating the two
split paper floats off.” 1
parts. She also mentions that to remove the
In this instance paper splitting seems to paper it is to be soaked in water and “...if
have been carried out in order to arrive at left long enough in the water it will float
two halves of paper with printing on both off, but it should not be forced off.” 2 She
sides, each of which must have been need- also does not mention another use for the
ed in a different place. Or possibly, only split papers.
one page of the printed matter was needed Since these two eminent bookbinding
and the other side was discarded. No men- experts wrote their instructions, much has
tion is made of reattaching the split sheets, happened, and paper splitting has been
or of any other use of the separated halves. brought to a high degree of sophistication
PA P E R S P L I T T I N G – continued
with the newest mechanized paper splitt-
ing machine. Now, however, the process
is used mainly as a measure to preserve
printed material that has become too
brittle or too fragile to be handled safely.
This works because the paper fiber links
in the paper to be split are weaker through
acid content, or outside influences, than
the links produced between the paper
and the carriers attached to each side with
a specially formulated adhesive. When
pulled apart the weaker paper splits neatly
I observed as in the middle.
a two-person It is an astonishing process because
very thin, very brittle paper can be treated
team split these in this manner, even paper with holes
large sheets by caused by iron gall ink corrosion. The two
hand; the tim- halves may be used separately, but most of Pulling two halves of paper apart at Zentrum Für Buch-
the time at the end of the process, they Erhaltung, Leipzig, Germany
ing absolutely
are reattached after a strong, but very thin,
perfect as they reinforcement sheet of sheer tissue has been order from the French National Library,
pulled the two inserted between them. In this case the for- which had sent a shipment of roughly
halves apart at merly brittle and damaged paper becomes 40,000 sheets of 19th century newspapers
much stronger and regains its original sta- to be split and reinforced.
the same speed bility without losing even its watermark. The papers were slightly yellowed typical
to prevent tear- Paper splitting by hand is often carried newsprint with some illustrations. I
ing the paper. out as a two-person operation, especially observed as a two-person team split these
when it involves large sheets of printed large sheets by hand; the timing absolutely
matter. A well-trained team can possibly perfect as they pulled the two halves apart
split 200 sheets per hour, whereas the at the same speed to prevent tearing the
paper splitting machine can manage about paper. This has to be well practiced and
2000 sheets per hour. The paper is split, takes skill and concentration.
reinforced with firm, flexible but strong After splitting comes the attaching of
paper, the two halves are reattached, dried the strengthening insert, and the realign-
and released from the carrier in a much- ment of the two halves; this step is carried
improved state. The once very time-con- out mechanically. Its most important
suming, labor-intensive and therefore very aspect of course is the exact registration
expensive procedure can be speeded up, of the two pieces of paper. This “paper
and even after considering the cost of the sandwich” then passes over a vacuum table
machine, becomes economically feasible. which draws out the surplus glue and
In the fall of 2000, while on sabbatical moisture, and is placed between blotters to
leave in Europe, I had the good fortune of dry. Once it is dry the two outside sheets
observing paper splitting by hand at the of paper must be soaked off in an enzyme
Zentrum Für Buch-Erhaltung in Leipzig, bath, that softens only the glue used to
Germany and I also saw the splitting adhere the carrier papers, but will not
machine. The Zentrum was working on an soften nor dissolve the reattached paper.
2
PA P E R S P L I T T I N G – continued
Unfortunately, the paper splitting use again as many printed resources as pos-
machine, which is about 25 feet long and sible, under one roof.
over six feet high, was not in operation. This concept was not easy to fulfill and the
The newspapers sent from France proved beginning years were difficult. The
to be about one centimeter larger than the Zentrum “...originated as the Conserva-
largest size that could be accommodated by tion Department of the German Library in
the machine. The Svabian firm Becker Leipzig, but after 35 years of work in pub-
Verfahrenstechnik (an engineering compa- lic service, limits had been reached which
ny in Germany) built this prototype for the could only be overcome by a new organiza-
Zentrum Für Buch-Erhaltung in Leipzig to tional form.”3 The center began with seven-
the design and specifications of its technical teen employees and has now over fifty.
director, Dr. Wolfgang Waechter. I was told Providing one central location for any
by Dr. Waechter that this was the only type of treatment needed by a wide variety Providing one
of materials and the desire for physically central location
handling materials as infrequently as possi-
ble have made the Zentrum successful and
for any type of
it is now fully self-supporting. It is located treatment need-
in a very modern industrial building in ed by a wide
light, airy and superbly appointed rooms, variety of mat-
with state-of-the-art equipment, work sta-
tions and storage areas with additional erials and the
space already assured as part of its expan- desire for physi-
sion program. cally handling
Treatment requests are received from
libraries, museums, private collectors, insti-
materials as
tutions and commercial firms in many infrequently as
Lining up the carrier paper which is dissolved off later at
Zentrum Für Buch-Erhaltung, Leipzig, Germany European countries. The Bavarian State possible have
Library sends all its material for paper split- made the
machine of its kind in existence so far. ting to the Zentrum. According to
Not all preservation experts are in favor Dr. Waechter negotiations regarding a Zentrum suc-
of treating deteriorating papers this way. branch location in the US, possibly on cessful and it is
It is, after all, a very invasive method of the East Coast, were underway. now fully self-
preserving the material. However it does go
a long way to assure survival of important
supporting.
printed papers and of making them avail- BIBLIOGRAPHY
able to researchers in the future. Until a 1 Cockerell, Douglas. Bookbinding and the Care of
process is developed which will effect the Books. London, Pitman, 1978, c. 1901, p. 63-64.
same improvement in the quality of deteri- 2 Diehl, Edith. Bookbinding, Its Background and
Technique. New York, Dover, 1980, p. 306.
orating paper, paper splitting will have its
3 Zentrum Für Buch-Erhaltung. The Service Partner,
place among the preservation practices as
Leipzig, ZFB, n.d., p. 3
they are used today.
A short note on the Zentrum Für Buch-
Margit J. Smith is the Head of Cataloging and Preservation at
Erhaltung: The mission of the Zentrum is Copley Library, University of San Diego, 5998 Alcala Park,
to provide one site capable of carrying out San Diego, CA 92110-2492, mjps@sandiego.edu, 619-260-2365.
every process of caring for, repairing, con-
serving, and otherwise making available for
3
Library Pamphlet Binding
By Shannon Zachary
I JOINED THE all publications one-quarter inch thick or
W
HEN
Conservation Services Staff less and ships them to Conservation
at the University Library, the Services by the tote full.
University of Michigan, I found all my pre- Despite the narrow definition of pam-
conceived definitions of “pamphlet” swept phlet, the pamphlets that come to
aside in favor of a simpler test: here a “pam- Conservation Services show a remarkably
phlet” is a bundle of print on paper, either wide variation of format. Some are pam-
Pamphlets are unbound or soft-cover bound, that is one- phlets in the classic sense: a limited number
quarter inch thick or less. This definition is of sheets folded and secured with staples or
one class of
purely pragmatic, as so much must be in a sewing through the fold. There are loose
material that unit charged with overseeing the physical sheets of 8 1/2 by 11-inch office paper held
we routinely well being of a research collection that tops together by a single staple in one corner.
bind before the seven million volumes. It derives from the Many “pamphlets” are small paperbacks;
practical observation that a text block one- the leaves may be attached just with adhe-
new volume quarter inch thick or less is difficult to sive or the paper may be folded in sections
is ever placed rebind by traditional binding methods and and sewn. Each “pamphlet” may be a single
on the shelf. therefore alternatives have been developed. publication, a small series of publications (a
Indeed pamphlet binding has evolved its group of newsletters, for example), or a sin-
Unbound, the
own decision trees and workflow. It over- gle publication in several parts.
slippery little laps both the in-house Book Repair opera-
devils are diffi- tions and Bindery Preparations (the unit The Pamphlet Binder
that routes books out to the commercial While pamphlets without binders are
cult to keep
binder) but belongs wholly to neither. quickly crushed on the shelf, library pam-
in place. What follows is a description of work flow, phlet binders themselves have often proved
decisions, and rationale for the treatment a source of damage to the material they are
of pamphlets at Michigan—with a recogni- intended to protect.
tion that “our way” is only part of the Pamphlet binding for single-section
whole sub-world of pamphlets in libraries. folded publications is highly satisfactory: a
few stitches with wire or thread through
When to Bind? the fold can attach a durable hard cover to
Pamphlets are one class of material that we the pamphlet without significant damage
routinely bind before the new volume is to the original soft cover. The binding can
ever placed on the shelf. Unbound, the be undone simply by cutting and pulling
slippery little devils are difficult to keep in out the stitching. When necessary—after
place. They slide behind or are crushed by water damage to the binder, for example—
their more robust neighbors. Thrown in a it is a simple process to rebind. Pamphlets
student backpack or down a book-return in multiple sections that were originally
chute, the unarmed pamphlet is likely to sewn can with practice be manipulated
become folded, spindled, or mutilated. into a pamphlet binder by stitching
Our Labeling Unit, when processing new through the first and last sections. (See ref-
acquisitions for the shelf, gathers together erences below for sewing techniques.)
4
L I B R A R Y PA M P H L E T B I N D I N G – continued
Conservation Services, University Library, University of Michigan
1 2
3
1 Inserting music into the pamphlet and placing into
wire-stitching machine
2 Removing the paper liner from the cloth spine-wrap
3 Smoothing down the spine wrap
Pamphlets in single sheets (loose sheets
or originally adhesive-bound) are less satis-
factory. The text block can be side-stapled
into a pamphlet binder. As long as the
paper is in good condition, damage to the two strips of gummed tape sewn together
original publication caused by the binding down the center, right side to right side,
is limited to the stab holes of the staples, were an ingenious invention that has not
but the binding is tight. It fights the reader proved satisfactory in the long term. All
and it fights the photocopier. The user the stress of the pamphlet-to-binder attach-
responds by forcing the pamphlet open ment and of the movement of the pam-
and weighting it to hold his place. Once phlet is concentrated on the spine of the
the paper becomes weak or brittle, it breaks pamphlet’s paper cover. Sometimes the
along the line of flex. In recent years we gummed tape fails to stick adequately and
have worked with our commercial binder other times it sticks only too well, damag-
to extend certain adhesive-bind structures ing the original cover or creating a break-
to some of the narrower paperbacks in ing line at the edge of the tape.
preference to side-stapling. All our side-sta-
ple pamphlets are screened for a minimum Supplies and Equipment
three-eighths inch of gutter margin to Pre-constructed pam binders. Evaluations of
ensure that the bound text can be read. our in-house book repair unit have consis-
Pam binders made with butterfly tape— tently shown that staff time is the most
5
L I B R A R Y PA M P H L E T B I N D I N G – continued
expensive component of the operation.
Our costs are made most efficient by tak-
ing advantage of pre-cut and pre-assembled
parts prepared by outside suppliers when-
ever possible. Our specifications for pam-
phlet binders include:
• alkaline buffered board stock, 40–60 pt.
• C-grade (or better) spine cloth
• construction that conceals the stitching
on the spine
The last requirement comes from expe-
Our costs are rience that wire stitching or sewing that is
made most effi- exposed on the outside of the binding
cient by taking often does not hold up in use: either the
advantage of stitching is worn off by rubbing, is deliber-
ately picked apart by a curious reader, or
pre-cut and (in the case of wire stitching) snags other
pre-assembled material, resulting in damage either to the
parts prepared binding or to the other material.
Our jury is still out in the debate
by outside sup- between clear-front (polyester sheet) and
Music Library, University of Michigan
pliers whenever board-front binders. Clear-front binders per year. The stitchers use wire off a spool,
possible. are well liked by most of the managers at cutting the wire to length for each “staple.”
the libraries and by users (even academics, The wire we use is bethanized steel, which
it seems, will judge a book by its cover is steel coated with tin. Pure stainless steel
when making selections at the shelf). is too brittle for the machine and galva-
Clear fronts do become scratched with nized steel or copper wire quickly degrades.
use, occasionally crack or break, and Round wire is used for saddle-stitching, flat
have created some in-house controversy wire for side-stitching.
over where and how to attach the call
number label. Wire-stitching machines. Several of the
archival supplies companies sell table-top
Thread vs. staples. Best practice for pam- staplers for pamphlets. Search directories
phlets is to remove all existing staples from under “printing equipment” and “bindery
the pamphlet and to sew it, by machine or equipment” for the larger wire stitchers.
by hand, with linen or cotton thread. A Make sure that the machine will permit
simple three-hole sewing pattern (expanded both saddle and side stitching.
to five or even seven for large books) holds
the pamphlet securely in place with least Work flow
damage. While a small proportion of our All publications one-quarter inch thick or
pamphlets are hand-sewn into binders, we less are sorted out into totes for pamphlet
long ago invested in a pair of floor-model binding. Staff at the Labeling Unit, the
wire-stitching machines to expedite a work Stacks Office, or tech processing areas of
flow that averages over 8,000 pamphlets the branch libraries identify potential
6
L I B R A R Y PA M P H L E T B I N D I N G – continued
pamphlet binds; Bindery Preparations Narrow margins: a pamphlet needs at
and Book Repair Staff also watch for
and re-route pamphlets. As they are
least three-eighths inch clear gutter
margin for side-stapling into a binder
San Francisco
received totes are labeled by library (saddle-stapling does not interfere Public Library
and by date, to facilitate a first-in, with the gutter space). Pamphlets housing music scores,
first-out workflow. with insufficient margin for side-sta- plays, poetry, govern-
The technician in charge of pling are handed over to Book Repair ment documents
pamphlet binding selects the tote Staff for adhesive binding or to be and magazines
with the earliest date and sorts the placed in a pocket attached inside
pamphlets. a binder. by Marie Kelser
Sort by size: A simple sizing jig helps Spiral binds: if the original pamphlet “At the San Francisco Public
select the appropriate standard-sized is spiral-bound or comb-bound, the Library we have an extensive
binder for the book. The jig is an spiral or comb must be cut off. permanent Music Score collec-
eighteen-inch square of binder’s board Sometimes there is sufficient gutter tion. The majority of the sheet
with portions of wooden yardsticks margin to guillotine the holes off music is bound in the spine-
glued on two adjacent edges to make and then staple the pamphlet into a wrap binders. The spine wrap
stops. The binder sizes are ruled off binder. (The paper will break down not only hides and protects the
with indelible markers and color- quickly if it is forced to flex along paper covers but it ensures that
coded to make it easier to distinguish the line of holes.) If the margin is the item will not fall out of the
adjacent sizes. Pamphlets are fitted to insufficient, the book is transferred binder when sections or pages
binders that are the next size larger to the Book Repair unit for adhesive become loose or detached. I
than the text block, allowing for at binding. find that the dense Archival
least one-eighth-inch squares. Our Board, the C-1 cloth and 20 pt.
smallest binders are 7 1/2 inches high. clear cover hold up well with the
Pamphlets smaller than seven inches music users. We also use the
all automatically go in 7 1/2 inch binders for other pamphlets and
binders (stapled so the pamphlet is thin materials in the collection
one-eighth inch from the bottom of and for regular and oversize
the binder and the excess binder is all Government Documents, which
at the top); otherwise tiny pamphlets receive little use but need long
get lost on the shelf. term preservation protection. In
addition, the spine wrap binders
Sort by bind style: the technician then can be reused once a popular
slips each pamphlet into a binder and monthly magazine issue is out of
stacks the binders, sorting through- date. I choose Archival Product
the-fold pamphlets into one stack and pamphlet binders for the quality
side-staple pamphlets into another. of the materials to protect the
Throughout these procedures the life of the material, be it a score,
technician is on the watch for special a play, poetry pamphlet or a
problems. The pamphlets are then Government Document.”
stapled with two, three, or more
Marie Kelzer
stitches depending on the height of San Francisco Public Library
the piece. Stitches are spaced two to Preservation Unit Manager
Music Library, University of Michigan
four inches apart.
7
L I B R A R Y PA M P H L E T B I N D I N G – continued
Tears: if the pamphlet cover or pages are Binding for the Long Haul
torn up the spine folds, it is handed to Once a pamphlet is secured in a sturdy
Book Repair to mend the tear with tissue binder, very rarely does the binding fail.
before binding. Occasionally pamphlets have been water-
damaged and we replace the binder.
Brittle paper: the pamphlet is routed to Occasionally a pamphlet is deliberately
Book Repair for adhesive binding or to be pulled out of the binder by a reader
placed in a pocket binder. Some weaker who finds the binding too restrictive.
materials can be hand-sewn with a loose Overwhelmingly, investment in pamphlet
guard of heavy Japanese paper folded into binding is a long-term protection for
the center of the section. the book.
GLOSSARY
Once a pam- Time and Staff
sewn: leaves attached with thread
phlet is secured A 1994 time and cost study of our in- stitched: leaves attached with wire staples
house staple binding operation found the saddle-sewn: saddle-stitched: leaves secured through
in a sturdy average time per item was four minutes. the center fold
side-sewn, side-stitched: leaves secured by passing thread or
binder, very Time included sorting, stapling the pam- staples through the entire thickness of the book near
rarely does the phlet into a pre-assembled binder, and the binding edge
minor interruptions such as adjustments to stab-sewn, stab-stitched: = side-sewn, side-stitched
binding fail. machinery, minor restocking of supplies,
Definitions adapted from: Matt T. Roberts and Don Etherington,
and short consultations on problem pieces. Bookbinding and the Conservation of Books: a Dictionary
No significant difference was found of Descriptive Terminology, Washington, D.C.: Library of
between processing times for saddle and Congress, 1982. See the dictionary (also available online at
<http://sul-server-2.stanford.edu/don/don.html>) for more detail.
side-stapled pamphlets. Over the past fif-
teen years the unit output has ranged from RESOURCES ON PAMPHLET STRUCTURES AND SEWING
7,500 to 12,500 pamphlets per year. The Greenfield, Jane. Books: Their Care and Repair. New York:
operation has been staffed by approximate- H.W. Wilson Co., 1983.
Kyle, Hedi. Library Materials Preservation Manual. Bronxville,
ly .5 FTE student assistants supervised by NY: Nicholas T. Smith, 1983.
the Book Repair unit. More recently staple Lavender, Kenneth. Book Repair: a How-To-Do-It: a Manual.
binding has claimed part of a regular sup- 2nd ed. How-To-Do-It Manuals for Librarians, Number 107.
New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers, Inc., 2001.
port staff position.
Shannon Zachary is the Head of Conservation Services in
the Preservation Division, University Library, University of
Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-3294, szachary@umich.edu.
LBS/Archival Products
1801 Thompson Ave.
P.O. Box 1413
Des Moines, Iowa 50305-1413
1-800-526-5640
515-262-3191
Fax 888-220-2397
custserv@archival.com
www.archival.com
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