BPG Circulating Collections

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Book and Paper Group Wiki > Book Conservation Wiki > Circulating Collections

This page addresses the conservation needs of non-rare, paper-based items. Techniques that are already described in other parts of the BPG Wiki will be represented by links. Techniques that are particular to circulating collections treatment will be described below. These techniques are intended as guidance in order to help fellow conservation professionals develop workflows to suit the needs of their home institutions or clients. Conversations with local stakeholders will be crucial to refining appropriate choices.

The authors welcome contributions and updates to this page. If you are interested, please contact bookandpapergroup.wiki@gmail.com.

Wiki Compilers: Lauren Telepak
Wiki Contributors: Quinn Morgan Ferris, Eliza Gilligan, Susan Russick, Jon Sweitzer-Lamme, Christina Thomas, Roger S. Williams, please add your name here

Copyright 2021. The Book and Paper Group Wiki is a publication of the Book and Paper Group of the American Institute for Conservation. It is published as a convenience for the members of the Book and Paper Group. Publication does not endorse nor recommend any treatments, methods, or techniques described herein. Information on researching with the wiki and citing the BPG Wiki can be found on the Reference and Bibliography Protocols page. The BPG Wiki coordinators can be reached at bookandpapergroup.wiki@gmail.com.

Cite this page:

BPG Circulating Collections. 2021. Book and Paper Group Wiki. American Institute for Conservation (AIC). Accessed October 16, 2021. https://www.conservation-wiki.com/wiki/BPG_Circulating_Collections

Introduction[edit | edit source]

Many research institutions hold collections that are valued primarily for their intellectual content rather than their artifactual or aesthetic features. Described as “circulating” or “general” collections, these materials are set apart from “special collections” both physically and contextually. These research materials can vary in format from bound monographs, serials or newspapers, to maps, gray literature and pamphlets. Their use can vary over time, as a result of faculty assigning a given title for a class or a curator who is writing a book on a particular subject area. If use falls off completely, a single item or an entire subject area could be withdrawn and disposed of. Additionally, the context of “circulation” will vary by institution. A university library may allow books to be checked out by faculty for years at a time or by students for a semester. Reference books or maps may be checked out to an unsupervised reading room. Circulating collections are often vast in size and tend to consist of more modern materials: mostly late-19th, 20th, and 21st-century materials that are made with weaker structures, such as case bindings and machine made paper. Their high use, less controlled storage and use environments make them more vulnerable to damage. The variables associated with circulating collections require repair techniques that emphasize durability over aesthetics or reconstruction of original features. Given the size of most circulating collections, speed and cost-effectiveness of materials and repair is also an important factor when making treatment choices.

Ethics[edit | edit source]

Treatment of circulating collections should operate within a conservation framework. Procedures should be guided by the AIC Code of Ethics with regard to materials, methods and documentation. However, the context of circulating collections differs from that of single item treatment of rare materials in terms of scale, turn-around time and retention. Conservators who work with circulating collections will need to adapt standards accordingly. For example, documentation of the treatment process for individual items is not practical nor necessary; instead, treatment practices can be documented through development of a repair manual for the preservation department. Examples of these repair manuals have been collected below in the section on Further Reading. The ethics of any conservation workflow must be aligned with the mission of the institution and developed in collaboration with institutional colleagues such as curators or librarians who have subject area expertise and can represent the needs of the user community.

Factors to Consider[edit | edit source]

Circulating volumes awaiting evaluation.

The fundamental consideration in general collections conservation is the preservation of the information contained within a volume for the life of the volume. In this context, conservators should be willing to perform more durable repairs to withstand use: an original structure that is failing might need to be replaced with a stronger structure rather than reinforced, if the reinforcement would remain weaker than a new structure and cause the book to fail again. In a general collections context, when developing preservation policies, curatorial input is at the collection or subject area level. Consultation with a curator for treatment of an individual item would be the exception rather than the rule.

  • Books may have limited lifespans in a collection, either because they will be replaced with more up-to-date volumes or because they will be discarded and replaced once they become too damaged to repair.
  • Original materials which do not provide aesthetic or textual information may be and often are discarded in favor of strength and long-term stability. Structural endsheets on case bindings, failing plain boards, failing spine structures, and similar structures are often replaced in order to maximize strength.
  • Facsimiles, on buffered, conservation-grade paper, of original materials may be provided to replace failing original materials. This is a common treatment for brittle books. Watermarked paper is a good choice for this, because it ensures that future preservation professionals know that the paper is both stable for the long term and not original to the book.
  • Books that might be theoretically reparable may not be repaired if the information they contain is available elsewhere. Bound volumes of serials available on microfilm or monographs available digitally are often deemed a lower conservation priority than in-copyright monographs or bound serials not available in other formats. These materials, as well as brittle materials which cannot accept repairs without degrading further, are often rerouted for boxing and storage, digitization, replacement, or removal from the collection, depending on institutional priorities.

Shared Print Programs[edit | edit source]

Libraries are increasingly taking part in Shared Print Programs (SPPs) to expand access to materials for their users without adding to the number of physical items requiring storage. Similarly to interlibrary loan, SPPs allow for a wider circulation of physical materials beyond an institution’s immediate patrons. SPPs involve a more formal relationship than ILL, though, and may entail shared policies, catalogs, and storage facilities. Participation in SPPs also allows libraries to withdraw more materials, relying on shared copies at other collections within the partnership. This shared retention commitment can result in a decrease in extant copies (see Teper 2019 and Maiorana et al. 2019). Members of SPPs may also share space at high-density storage facilities with strict environmental parameters.

Workflows[edit | edit source]

Example of a tracking flag for the Library of Congress general collections treatment workflow

One of the most important differences between general and special-collections book conservation labs is the variety of work performed. Because each item in a circulating collection may need to be put to several different types of use over its life, and because circulating or general collections often interface extensively with other parts of library technical services, such as cataloging and commercial binding, there are a variety of different processes at work in general collections labs.

Institutions differentiate workflows in a variety of ways, and some may not be performed by general collections labs in all libraries. A selection process is used to assign items to one or more of the following workflows:

  • Treatment - The hands-on treatment of materials is of course a main focus of any conservation lab.
  • Bindery Preparation - Prior to sending materials to a commercial bindery, books may be prepared in various ways to save money, ensure a conservation-grade binding, or to customize the binding approach. This may involve creating facsimiles, consolidating endsheets, or creating pockets.
  • Digitization Preparation - Books being sent for digitization may need basic treatment to ensure safe handling.
  • Creating housings - Various types of housings are needed for items, whether that is a customized, corrugated board box or a simple stitched pamphlet binding.
  • Shelf preparation - Collections items are prepared to withstand normal storage, use, and circulation.


Regardless of the types of workflows performed in the lab, careful tracking of items within the lab is needed, given the much higher volume of items that may be in the lab at a given time. Flags which describe the expected treatment and/or databases linked to the ILS are useful tools in tracking the items in the custody of the lab.

Items needing treatment often come from multiple sources, including catalogers, circulation-desk staff, and other staff working in the stacks. As such, it is often valuable to train the workers who most often come in contact with these materials to identify problems with an item that should result in its being sent to conservation.

Treatments[edit | edit source]

Case binding[edit | edit source]

See BPG Case Binding

Forwarding[edit | edit source]

Spine Lining[edit | edit source]

See also this Brigham Young University training video on spine lining.
See also this Brigham Young University training video on creating a new spine tube.

Endsheet attachment[edit | edit source]

See also this Brigham Young University training video on sewing on new endsheets.

Textblock repairs[edit | edit source]

See also BPG Leaf Attachment and Sewing Repair

Attaching loose sheets or detached pages[edit | edit source]

See also this Brigham Young University training video on hinging loose pages.

Facsimile[edit | edit source]

Often items have missing, damaged or vandalized pages. If a suitable source image can be found, quality facsimiles can be made to act as replacements. Furthermore, facsimiles can aid in the retention of informative and/or decorative, book covers and endsheets of items that will be sent to the commercial bindery. Commercial graphic editing software, such as Photoshop, desktop publishing software, such as InDesign, and/or inventive copier machine capabilities may be used to create archival reproductions to integrate into the damaged item. Once created, facsimiles can be hinged into the text, tipped-in, or sewn as gatherings into textblocks. It is important to make sure that the paper and other materials used are of archival quality. Major candidates for facsimile treatment are informative or decorative covers of items going to the commercial bindery; pages too torn/damaged for proper paper repair; taped pages without the possibility of removal; and brittle pages, such as many old soft covers, that are too fragile to withstand paper repairs. If original materials are scanned, the repair--such as filling a loss, removing tape, or cleaning a stain--may be “performed” digitally and replace the damaged original.

To make sympathetic reproductions, one needs to consider the aspects of the original that will affect the course and possibility of a quality reproduction. For example, while it is possible to scan and copy pages of text in grayscale, pages with color visuals require a further manipulation of scanning and printing settings, which may exceed the capacity of software, printers and copiers. A black and white copier will not produce the results appropriate for a glossy color photo plate. One must also try to match the paper quality of the original as close as possible, using archival paper that matches both the color and weight of the original.When reproducing decorative or informative book covers being sent to the commercial bindery, a light cardstock might be used to indicate the original card cover.

However, all scanners and printers have size and resolution limitations. In addition, the time it takes to make quality reproductions may be too great, and a more cost-effective solution would be replacement of the item.

Adhesive Binding[edit | edit source]

Many general-collections books are received as “perfect” bindings, which are single sheets adhered, typically with a heat-set adhesive, at the spine. This adhesive often fails. Similar issues occur with side-stapled bindings, such as government reports, originally received as loose leaves, but which were historically bound for circulation and shelving with staples. Side stapling often detaches from the case or causes damage to leaves with normal use.

Double-fan adhesive (DFA) binding is a preservation-grade tool for binding or rebinding materials received in this condition: materials whose text block is composed of single leaves. This process is typically inappropriate for special-collections materials because of the attachment of a large volume of adhesive directly to the original item; the adhesive typically used is PVA because of the need for strength and flexibility. DFA binding is a modified perfect binding, which can be performed either over the edge of a workbench or using a finishing press or a purpose-built DFA press. The leaves are collated, stacked, and have their spine edges aligned. Endsheets, if being used, can be included in this stack-the unbound textblock. The textblock is flexed, fanning the spine edge to expose approximately ⅛ of an inch of each leaf while leaving the fore edge immobile, either by maintaining a firm grip or by securing in the press. Adhesive is brushed directly onto the exposed edges. Once fully glued, the fanning is reversed and the opposite sides of each leaf are exposed and glued. The text block is allowed to dry in a press. If the book being repaired is soft-cover, the covers and spine are often composed of a single sheet of cardstock; the spine of this piece of cardstock may be adhered using the same layer of PVA, as can any spine lining or forwarding.

See also this Brigham Young University training video on adhesive bindings

Housings and Enclosures[edit | edit source]

Housings for circulating collections tend to be identical or very similar to those used for special collections materials. Housings for circulating collections may be sturdier or more durable than special collections because they have to withstand a bookdrop. They may incorporate security measures that alter the object, such as sewing a pamphlet directly to the binder rather than placing it inside of a pocket. Because many circulating collections are in open stacks, it is critical that labeling is clearly visible and secure. The existence of a housing is typically noted in the cataloguing record to ensure that it is returned after circulation. Some materials are produced with their own slipcase, box or other housing - for the purposes of this discussion, those are considered to be part of the object and not a protective enclosure.

Housings are unlikely to include ‘luxurious’ or expensive materials like leather and often include bare boards and cost effective materials like buckram cloth. Space considerations can influence material selection, for example a 20pt board 4-flap wrapper takes less shelf space than corrugated board. Housings tend to be prefabricated and in standard sizes, although many corrugated boxes are custom made. Retrofitting of a prefabricated, standard housing may be done. Irregularly sized materials, such as landscape format books and oversize musical scores, will require individually made housings. For more information see the BPG page on housings.

Vendor Treatments[edit | edit source]

Mass Deacidification[edit | edit source]

Volumes being deacidified.

For a more in-depth description of deacidification, see the BPG page on alkalinization of books.
Chemical alkalinization or neutralization treatments applied simultaneously to groups of books are typically called "mass deacidification." Mass deacidification is usually performed at a purpose-built facility, not by a conservator. Successful treatments keep the paper flexible and close to the original color without causing cockling, bleeding of media, or other condition issues. While other products exist, by far the most common mass deacidification system in the United States is PTLP’s Bookkeeper. (For further discussion of current practices, see Johnson, et al. 2012.)

Selection for treatment[edit | edit source]

The following materials are good candidates for mass deacidification using Bookkeeper:

  • Most books printed in black ink on white or cream colored paper, bound in paper, cloth or leather.
  • Most newspapers


The following are to be avoided either because they are dangerous to the object, aesthetically unsatisfactory, or render the Bookkeeper product less effective:

  • Do not use with photographs because of the chemistry of the photograph.
  • While it has not been seen to bleed water soluble media, it is not considered appropriate for art or printed works with heavy media (silk screens) due to the aesthetics of the white powder deposit.
  • Avoid papers that are dark colored because the white magnesium oxide particle deposit is likely to be visible on it.
  • Avoid papers that are highly calendared or coated because the magnesium oxide particles will not adequately penetrate the paper and will be ineffective. Many magazines are inappropriate
  • Avoid media that is abrasion applied or friable because the mass application process can abrade lightly attached media. Graphite pencil may be physically abraded by Bookkeeper.
  • Avoid papers that can not tolerate physical manipulation – spray rather than mass application may be possible for fragile materials.

Identification of previously treated materials[edit | edit source]

  • PTLP Bookkeeper places a sticker on the inside back cover of books and on folders of archival materials, unless a request not to include that sticker is made.
  • Bookkeeper leaves a white magnesium oxide powder that acts as an alkaline reserve. This powder may be visible or transfer to the user’s hands.

Implications for future treatments[edit | edit source]

Any substance that leaves an alkaline deposit on an object may be more prone to tidelines. When water is introduced, the calcium or magnesium reserve may have a localized washing effect resulting in significant tidelines. These alkaline reserves also seem to promote more rapid wetting of the paper resulting in faster humidification and increased wicking of moisture into the paper.

See also this description of the mass deacidification program at the Library of Congress.

Commercial Library Binding[edit | edit source]

Commercially bound volumes.

Commercial library binding (CLB) is a treatment option for circulating and general collection books when economy and durability are important. CLB involves sending out library materials, mainly monographs and serials, to a certified library binder to be bound or recased into hard case bindings to extend the useful life of the materials. In contrast to an in-house bindery or conservation lab, these vendors utilize specialized equipment and work processes to economically batch the binding of large shipments of materials. Since the binding process may involve removing and discarding original features of a volume (covers and endsheets) it is not recommended for items that have artifactual or associational significance. A set of technical standards for library binding was created by the National Information Standards Organization (NISO) and the Library Binding Institute (LBI) and is updated periodically. To complement this document, a Guide to the ANSI/NISO/LBI Library Binding Standard was created to help library staff interpret and apply the standard. The sections below outline considerations for selecting volumes to send to a binder and share some processes for preparing items to go to the bindery.

Selecting library materials for binding[edit | edit source]

When selecting materials to send to a library binder it is important that the following factors are considered:

  • Is there anything unique or special about the original binding? If so, consider inhouse treatment or a housing instead.
  • Is the textblock paper in good enough condition to be rebound? (Paper is not brittle or extensively damaged, etc.)
  • How old is the volume? (Some organizations have implemented a date cut off for CLB.)
  • Is there enough margin in the textblock for rebinding? (Review bindery specifications)
  • Is there a necessary turnaround time for rebinding the volume? (Some binderies can provide a rush turnaround, but this may incur additional fees.)
  • If applicable, how does this item fit into your organization’s deferred binding program?

Preparing materials for binding[edit | edit source]

Procedures for preparing materials to be sent to a library binder will differ by institution and individual contracts. The following are some preparation procedures that might be necessary.

  • Repairing torn or damaged pages
  • Reattaching loose pages
  • Removing staples or other fasteners from the textblock
  • Retaining or photocopying informational endpapers (charts, maps, etc.) or paper covers to reattach to the textblock prior to rebinding
  • Removing items in pockets (maps, CDs, etc.) to be reunited with the volume when it returns.

Shelf Preparation[edit | edit source]

The activities designated as “shelf preparation” vary from institution to institution, and in some cases these activities may be the responsibility of departments other than preservation. Generally speaking this a workflow in which collections items are prepared to withstand normal storage, use, and circulation. In some institutions, “shelf prep” may also involve collections marking (applying barcodes, call numbers, security strips, bookplates, etc.).

The following manuals were created by conservation staff at Northwestern University Libraries to assist in training student workers in their shelf prep responsibilities. Contributors include Nicole Dobrowolski, Sara Dohrman, Kimberly Kwan, Susan Russick, and Roger Williams.

Further Reading[edit | edit source]

Baker, Whitney. 2013. “The Hybrid Conservator.” Library Resources & Technical Services 48 (3): 179–90.
Beyer, Carrie, and Jeanne Drewes. N.d. "Collections Care Section Treatment Manual." Library of Congress. Accessed May 20, 2020.
Doyle, Beth. 2004. “A Stitch in Time: Repairing the Original Sewing Structure on Bound Materials. 3. A View from General Collections Conservation.” The Book and Paper Group Annual 23: 67–69.
Gilligan, Eliza and Quinn Morgan Ferris. 2014. "Book Repair Manual: Instructions for the Construction of New Cases and Components for the University of Virginia Library’s Circulating Collection". Internal publication of University of Virginia Library.
Indiana University. 2016. "IU Libraries Preservation Manual." Accessed May 20, 2020.
Johnson, Justin, Michael K. Lee, and Cher Schneider (Discussion Group Co-Chairs). 2012. "Research and Technical Studies – Book and Paper Group Joint Discussion Session 2012: Mass Deacidification Today." The Book and Paper Group Annual 31: 101–112.
Maiorana, Zachary, Ian Bogus, Mary Miller, Jacob Nadal, Katie Risseeuw, and Jennifer Hain Teper. 2019. "Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost: Preservation in the Age of Shared Print and Withdrawal Projects." College and Research Libraries 80 (7): 945–972.
Merrill-Oldham, Jan, Paul A. Parisi, Gary Frost. 2008. Guide to the ANSI/NISO/LBI Library Binding Standard. Chicago: Association for Library Collections & Technical Services, Preservation and Reformatting Section.
Morrow, Carolyn Clark and Carole Dyal. 1986. Conservation Treatment Procedures, A Manual of Step-by-step Procedures for the Maintenance and Repair of Library Materials 2nd ed. Little, Colorado: Libraries Unlimited.
National Information Standards Institute. March 16, 2018. Library Binding. ANSI/NISO/LBC Z39.78-2000 (R2018). Baltimore, MD: National Information Standards Institute.
Northeast Document Conservation Center. “Preservation Leaflet 7.1: Guidelines for Library Binding.” n.d. Accessed May 28, 2020.
Silverman, Randy. 2000. "Jackets Recommended: The Case for Preserving Dust Jackets in Research Libraries." The Book and Paper Group Annual 19: 71.
Teper, Jennifer Hain. 2019. "Considering 'Sameness' of Monographic Holdings in Shared Print Retention Decisions." Library Resources & Technical Services 63 (1): 29–45.

History of This Page[edit | edit source]

This page was created in 2020 by Lauren Telepak, Eliza Gilligan, Susan Russick, Jon Sweitzer-Lamme, and Roger S. Williams. It builds on the original idea of the Book Conservation Catalog (BCC) chapter entitled "Case Binding Repair for Circulating Collection Items" written by Carole Dyal and Werner Haun, but focuses on the larger topic of preserving circulating collections. It incorporates suggestions received during an October 2019 Call for Content. The content from the BCC page became the page on BPG Case Binding.


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