There is no excuse for the librarian to leave upon her shelves or permit to circulate books that are held together only by the slender threads with which they are sewed and threatening at any moment to come tumbling forth from the cover. Such books speak in no uncertain terms for rebinding or permanent withdrawal from the shelves.
Shall books be sent to the bindery when in greatest demand?
YES, when they cannot be circulated further without permanent injury to them.
Such books should be hastened through the bindery by statement to binder regarding immediate need. If your present binder cannot bind promptly, find one who will.
The prompt rebinding of a book more than doubles its life. If the book has been reinforced at first sign of giving way (see page 16) all the temporary assistance that can safely be given has been rendered and if the book is of permanent value to the library it must be rebound.
WHEN TO MEND
When the stitches are not broken or loosened, and still hold sections firmly together.
When the joints are loose.
When the book has once been rebound.
The tendency among librarians is to mend too much before rebinding. Mending makes rebinding more difficult and jeopardizes the life of the book.
It is only in rare cases, as for example when a book is out of print, and yet valuable to the library, that a second rebinding is justified.