NYU Libraries’ circulating collection of 5 million volumes is a large resource to students across the campus. To maintain this vast collection, any damaged volumes receive item-level treatment either off-campus (boxing or commercial binding) or in Barbara Goldsmith Book & Paper Conservation Laboratory.
This past month, under the supervision and guidance of Special Collections Conservator Dawn Mankowski, I completed batch treatment of books from the circulating collection. Treating these books posed various challenges. For example, due to the large number of books in need of treatment, the repair methodology has to be quick yet effective. This means that each book will receive the same treatment, which is modified when sewing is compromised or other structural damages pose a challenge.
Re-back is a treatment for books whose spine pieces have detached. Loose signatures are secured by all-along sewing on cords or tapes. The original sewing is protected by various spine linings, which include Japanese paper and airplane linen, which also can extend onto the boards providing additional support. Boards are re-attached by flattening the frayed cords under pastedown and the spine is repaired using toned Japanese paper or book cloth that best matches the original cover.
Books which have missing covers are treated using on-set board reattachment (demonstrated by Special Collections Conservator Lou Di Gennaro) or a traditional re-case. In the former, endpapers are sewn all-along to cords or tapes. The boards are attached to the outer endpaper which is partially trimmed away, before covering. In the re-case the case is built, covered, and only then attached to the textblock.
The anticipated treatment results are that the books will be strong enough for careful use by the researchers. Mission accomplished!
Post by Mellon Fellow Lyudmyla Bua
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