For some reasons it would be wise to keep the slips from all books sent to the bindery in one alphabetical series. In the Newark Library this proves not to be as convenient as the method described, of keeping it first by days or months and next by styles of binding.
Examine the lettering and the numbers on the back to see if they are correct, comparing with the title page. Examine also the binding throughout.
If all is satisfactory, put pockets and book plates in all the books which require them.
Mark the pockets. Open each book carefully and thoroughly that the back may be loosened and made more flexible.
All magazines send with yellow slips containing directions as to style of binding, etc.
[CHAPTER XVII]
Bindery Equipment
The small library will find it does not pay to have a bindery of its own. This is a safe general rule to which there are exceptions, of course. Special conditions, such as remoteness from good binderies, may make it worth while for a library which spends only about $1,000 a year in binding to put in a small plant and do its own work. Even then, however, it is usually better to find a binder who will take the contract from the library at a fixed price per volume, using the library’s room and material. Such a binder can sometimes get additional work from other libraries or from private individuals. It should be noted that the amount paid for binding is not quite all that a binder who works in the library may expect to divert to his own shop; for a clever and obliging workman will make himself useful in repairing and in doing many small jobs of cutting, mounting, etc., which will add a good deal to his income. Still, as I have said, the small library will usually find that it is not economical to have its own bindery. Were there in this country plenty of commercial binderies, where first-rate work is done at fair prices—I do not mean low prices—it would not pay even the larger libraries to open their own binderies. The large shop is the only place in which some of the most important economies are possible, and only the large shop can afford to hire the most competent foremen and workers. Even the large libraries find it wise to rent their binderies to competent men who will do binding at contract prices. Under this arrangement some libraries find it pays to give up room to a bindery; though, as I have already remarked, they would not find it economical to do so were there efficient library binding establishments in the immediate vicinity.