Handling+Books

=**Handling Books**= In most libraries, there is probably little opportunity effectively to influence the attitudes of users except subtly through the example of the staff and the general atmosphere of the library. Exhibitions on the deterioration and conservation of collections, on the effects of vandalism, or which emphasize books as physical objects, may help to elicit careful handling of books. A slide/tape presentation or a videotape could be produced to show to new employees who will be handling books, especially in the course of photocopying. Strict rules may not be as effective as encouraging attitudes of carefulness by example. Some basic bookhandling rules for inclusion in such a program:
 * 1) Books should never be pulled off the shelf by the headcaps.
 * 2) If more than 3 books are to be transported within the library, a book trolley should be used to reduce likelihood of dropping items.
 * 3) Load book trolleys carefully to avoid items dropping off.
 * 4) Oversize books need particular care.
 * 5) Books should never be crammed into overcrowded shelves.

__Shelving Books__
Improper shelving practices also damage books. The shelves should be smooth, without sharp edges or abrasive finishes. Bookends should have a thick enough profile so that they are easily visible on the shelf, to help prevent jamming books over them, thus damaging the leaves. Narrow aisles between shelves encourage damage from book trolleys. Books should be stored upright on the shelf, with bookends adjusted to hold books straight, but without being so tight that damage is incurred in removing a book from the shelf. Storing books on their fore edges or letting them lean diagonally will damage their structure. The hinge area is particularly vulnerable. If there is no other alternative to storing books other than upright, it is less damaging to their structure to place them on their spine rather than on their fore edge. Books should not be jammed onto shelves which are too closely spaced for them. Large atlas sized volumes, sometimes called flats, elephant folios, plusses, etc. are especially vulnerable to damage because their size and weight is often too great for their structure. Large volumes should be stored flat, to reduce damage incurred in retrieving a book from a pile. || ||

__Photocopying Books__
Improper photocopy procedures are a significant cause of damage to library books. Thick volumes and narrow margins make the process more difficult. Once books are damaged, the usual recourse is to rebind the material, thus cutting off more of an already narrow margin. Inexpensive photocopying appears to be necessary in many libraries to reduce vandalism, but since cheap copying usually implies selfservice coinoperated machines, there is little possibility of controlling the care with which books are handled in the copying process.

__Preventive Measures__
Certain styles of copy machines help minimize damage to bound volumes. The best solution presently available is to use a machine that has a copy surface that extends to one outer edge of the machine. In this way one side of the book can lie flat against the glass while the other side of the book is supported off the edge of the machine. With this type of machine it is not necessary to flatten the whole volume against the glass at once, thus eliminating one cause of intense pressure on the binding. Machines should have an easily accessible print control button or coin slot. Changes in binding procedures can also help. Serials should be divided into small sections for binding and the thickness of the spine should not exceed about 2 1/2 inches. Adhesive, double fan binding should be used as it is as strong as oversewing on items with narrow spines. This binding is preferable for materials with narrow margins, and is good for items that are heavily photocopied.

__Copying Procedures__
Proper copying procedures minimize damage to volumes due to the photocopying process. Photocopiers should be of the type that enable the volume to remain stationary and the copying area to lie flush against an outside edge of the machine. 1. Always support the weight of the book with the copy machine or with your hand/s. 2. Avoid making a small portion of the volume support the weight of a larger part of the volume. 3. Avoid trying to flatten the volume beyond the capacity of its binding. 4. With thick volumes, the inner margin may be hidden due to the depth of the volume. To take advantage of this hidden margin, align the volume so that the outer edge of the copy glass is parallel to the inner margin and slightly overlaps onto the page that is not being copied. Support the side not being copied with one hand. Lift up the side not being copied gently from underneath to expand the volume and give additional margin in the finished copy. After pushing print button, use your other hand to gently put light pressure across the spine, downward at an angle toward the copy surface. Do not press too heavily and do not push straight down on the spine. A gentle pressure at an angle across the spine stretches the margin open and will not damage the spine. 5. Turn the volume around to copy the page on the opposite side. The inner margin of the volume should always lie along the outside edge of the machine. The pages copied will alternate directions and will need to be turned around before collating. 6. When copying a slender volume with narrow margins, the inner margin should lie directly along the edge of the machine. Support the edge not being copied. Thin books cannot be flexed as far as thicker volumes, so be careful. Push across the spine at a slight angle to expand margins if necessary.

Content from eLearning @ Swinburne2009 - Library Procedures - Process & Maintain Information Resources - Storage Procedures- Handling Books