As a conservation team, knowledge of the history and craft of printing and bookbinding is essential in order to respectfully treat the books and papers under the stewardship of the University of Florida libraries.
The building of our team knowledge is two-fold: research and creation.
Together we choose a book to study together that focuses on bookbinding, conservation, and/or a related field. We typically discuss one chapter from a book per month during team meetings.
Next, we choose a book structure, printing technique, and/or related craft to re-create together throughout the year. This not only builds our hand skills but also provides us with the self-awareness and knowledge needed to repair similar items in our collection. We also create documentation for future reference.
The result is a more knowledgeable team who can keep our collections in good order as well as a small but growing collection of historic prints and bindings that can be used by our libraries to teach more about the history of the book.
Scaleboard Bindings
Scaleboard Bindings
What are they?
“Scaleboard bindings are a culturally significant facet of bookbinding and publishing history, characterized by thinly planed (1–3 mm) wooden boards, around two hundred years after the popularization of paper-based boards in Western
bookbinding ” (Gundrum & Knoll, 2023).
Readings and Preparation
Preparing for the activity
We read several articles and passages from books about the history of scaleboard bindings. Julia Miller’s extensive research on the subject was very helpful.
We looked at multiple examples of scaleboard bindings in the UF library’s special collections. The example in the photo is one that Katie did conservation work on as well as made an enclosure for.
Scaleboard Bindings
Final Results
Left to Right: Katie, Katie, April, Jimmy
We are particularly proud of the research and work Jimmy put into the cover boards. They were made from sustainably sourced red oak from his parents’ property in the Jonesville area.
Sewing Practicum
Sewing Practicum
What are they?
An exploration of sewing methods commonly used in conservation work that can be used as reference.
Sewing Practicum
The activity
This includes sewing over linen tapes, link stitch sewing, sewing over linen cord, packed sewing over linen cord, sewing over double cords, and two-on sewing over sawn-in hemp cord.
Sewing Practicum
Final Results
These structures were good learning opportunities, and can now be used as reference for future conservation work.
Sewn Board Bindings
Sewn board Bindings
What are they?
The sewn boards binding is Gary Frost’s elegant, modern adaptation of an ancient method of
board attachment. Stiffened outer signatures sewn along with the text block function as the
book’s boards.
Preparation
Preparing for the activity
This activity was inspired by a 2013 Guild of Book Workers Seminar on Standards of Excellence in Hand Bookbinding called “Variations on the Drum Leaf and Sewn Boards Bindings” by Karen Hanmer.
Sewn board Bindings
Final Results
Jimmy
The book pictured was one of Jimmy’s. His handmade end papers are the perfect touch.
This structure focuses on common bookbinding tools, materials, techniques and principles such as grain direction, folding signatures, tidy application of adhesive, and measuring one component of the book to fit another.
English Bindings
English board Bindings
What are they?
A British and American Case Structure from the 1920—1940s.
This is a book structure we often encounter in conservation.
Preparation
Preparing for the activity
A 2018 post from the blog Out of the Box Bookbinding as well as a 2017 post from the blog Arielle’s Bindery titled Basic Binding Structures were helpful.
“Today this structure has become one of my favourite. I appreciate its streamlined, solid, compact feel, and of course I appreciate the fact that it is a case binding, for all the benefits that go with this.”
English board Bindings
Final Results
Jimmy
The book pictured was one of Jimmy’s.
Marbled end papers go nicely with the red bookcloth.
