Bookbinding and The Care of Books
Librarians by Douglas Cockerell with Drawings
by Noel Rooke and other Illustrations
New York
1902
Book binding Chapter XXI
Part 4
Rats and mice will gnaw the backs of F books to
get at the glue, so, means should be taken to get rid
of these vermin if they should appear. Mice
especially will nibble vellum binding or the edges
of vellum books that have become greasy with
much handling.
COCKROACHES
Cockroaches are very troublesome in libraries,
eating the bindings. Keating's Insect Powder will
keep them away from books, but only so long as it
is renewed at short intervals.
The Chairman of the Society of Arts le Special Committee says on this point :
“It is important that a just medium should be observed between the close and loose disposition
of books in the shelves. Tight packing causes the pulling off of the tops of book-backs, injurious
friction between their sides, and undue pressure, which tends to force off their backs. But books
should not stand loosely on the shelves.
They require support and moderate lateral pressure, otherwise the leaves are apt to open and
admit dust, damp, and mildew. The weight of the leaves also in good-sized volumes loosely
placed will PI often be found to be resting on the shelf, Be making the backs concave, and
spoiling : the shape and cohesion of the books.
"In libraries where classification is attempted there must be a certain number of partially filled
shelves. The books in these should be kept in place by some such device as that in use in the
British Museum, namely, a simple flat angle piece of galvanized iron, on the lower flange of
which the end books rest, keeping it down, the upright flange keeping the books close and
preventing them from spreading.
" He also speaks of the danger to bindings of rough or badly-painted bookshelves; "Great care
should be exercised when bookcases are painted or varnished that the surface should be left
hard, smooth, and dry. Bindings, especially those of delicate texture, may be irreparably rubbed
if brought in contact with rough or coarsely-painted surfaces, while the paint itself, years after its
original application, is liable to come off upon the books, leaving indelible marks. In such cases
pasteboard guards against the ends of the shelves are the only remedy."
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