Book preservation- How to?

[Carl_Corey]

I was informed today that I have been put in charge of preservation of certain books in our firm’s library. Some of the books are quite old, and getting a little decrepit. Pages coming loose, stuff like that. I have also been informed that the work will all be done in house, meaning by me. Gah.
I have been searching google for guides and how-to instructions. There are many sites, but I am not sure which ones to use. So those of you with library or bookbinding or book preservation experience, I ask you:

1. What online references are good/useful?

2. Do you have any wisdom or experience to share?

Thank you in advance for any help.

[moi]

Hi, Corey. What an amazing responsibility. Yikes! I went to my favorite book conservator, and she shared the following resources:

• Preservation Leaflets from the Northeast Document Conservation Center
  NEDCC Preservation Leaflets — NEDCC
• Preservation of Your Materials from the Library of Congress
  http://www.loc.gov/preserv/

If you think your firm would pony up for some education on your behalf, search the following for “preservation”:

• http://www.lyrasis.org/Classes%20and%20Events/Search.aspx (in person and online course offerings)
• http://www.amigos.org/learning/catalog/shopping/?id=38
• http://comminfo.rutgers.edu/professional-development/preservation-management-institute.html

Good luck!

[Carl_Corey]

Thanks, moi.

[Tim_T-Bonham.net]

If it’s the information in the books that is valuable, then a good way is to scan the books and save the info in electronic files, which can be easily copied, transfered, and reprinted as needed.

[Carl_Corey]

Yes, but that would open us up to copyright liability.

And as the firm specializes in IP law, that would not be good.

Thanks for the suggestion, though.

[ratatoskK]

The Cornell Library has a lot of info on book preservation, here.