Binding and Collections Care Division
The Binding and Collections Care Division (BCCD) is responsible for the preservation of the Library's heavily accessed LC-classified collections, achieved through the following activities:
- binding preparation and management of the binding contract
- batch collections conservation
- large-scale collections housing
- integrated workflows and close collaboration with other Library staff involved with reformatting and mass deacidification
The work of the division is carried out by two organizational units, Library Binding Section and Collections Care Section. The division hosts volunteers and interns with experience in collections conservation or preservation administration.
Library Binding
The Library Binding Section is responsible for providing binding preparation for the Library's General Collections and Copyright deposits.
Binding preparation includes binding services for: newly cataloged, unbound monographs; retrospective collections; and for unbound serial issues cumulated and processed by custodial divisions. The Section coordinates these activities using the enhanced version of the Advanced Bindery Library Exchange (ABLE 7.0) web-based software, which replaced the outdated Library Automated Retrieval System (LARS) at the Library in March 2012.
Left: Vintage bindings. Center: Books ready to be bound. Right: Bound books waiting for shelving.
The Library has tested a variety of commercially available pressure-sensitive labels and has developed specifications for call number labels and barcode labels affixed to the exterior of the book, and for Library of Congress Control Number (LCCN) barcode labels affixed within the book. See the Library's Preservation Supply Specifications (700 series) for additional information.
Collections Care
Collections Care Section provides collections conservation and housing for the Library's collections on a large scale in a cost-effective manner, filling the gap between the two options of single-item conservation treatment and commercial library binding to address damaged collections. Treated items are out of circulation for a minimal amount of time and retain significant artifactual and informational components.
Collections conservation treatment employs accepted conservation practices and materials, but is accomplished on a production scale through batch treatment of similar condition problems (e.g., tip-ins; page mending; recasing; creating or mending covers; text-block consolidation; facsimile creation to replace damaged or missing leaves); separate preparation of an extensive, but standardized array of repair materials; and strict adherence to standardized methods and procedures with quality control in lieu of extensive documentation.
Left: Book undergoing treatment. Center: Pre-cut supplies for repairing books. Right: Book drying in a book press.
Left: A digital book measurer captures the necessary measurements to make a custom-fit box. Center: AutoCAD software enables full control of box design. Right: The automated boxcutting machine cuts the custom box out of preservation quality board.
Brittle, extremely damaged, or moldy materials are reviewed for replacement. Non-standard format items (e.g., spiral bindings, non-rectangular-shaped books) may require protective enclosures. Custom-fitted enclosures, or housings, are efficiently measured and cut from preservation-quality board using an automated box-cutting machine system.
Mass Deacidification
Mass deacidification is one means by which the Library of Congress preserves the Library’s collections, which includes over 24 million books printed after 1801. In 1998, the Library started treating acidic post-1801 materials by the mass deacidification process to extend the useful life of at-risk paper-based collections and ensure continued access.
Why Mass Deacidification?
Both the paper manufacturing process and the raw material from which paper is made can result in acidic paper. Over time, acidic paper deteriorates and grows irreversibly brittle and weaker. In the most advanced stage of deterioration, acidic paper easily crumbles to pieces (and reformatting is necessary to save the informational content).
To effectively extend the useful life of acidic paper-based collections, the Library identifies and treats acidic collection materials to stop this deterioration process in its early stages.
What is Mass Deacidification?
Many books printed between the invention of wood-pulp paper (ca. 1850) and the development of paper standards in the U.S. (1980s) are acidic. In addition to these millions of books, newly-printed acidic collection materials still enter the Library today (foreign titles comprise more than 50% of the Library’s acquisitions).
The tremendous number of acidic materials in the Library’s vast collections requires a bulk neutralization treatment process.
Left: Books in a mass deacidification tank. Right: Loose sheets are placed in hanging file folders and the folder crate is placed in the treatment tank.
In the 1980s, the Library of Congress led the development and evaluation of mass deacidification processes that resulted in the chemistry used today. This chemistry neutralizes acidic papers without using water. To date, the Library has treated over four million volumes and over 10 million loose sheets in the collections.
Retrospective Collections
- Class A — General Works (selected areas)
- Class B — Philosophy, Psychology, Religion (completed)
- Class C — Genealogy & Biography (completed)
- Class D — General History (completed)
- Class E — U.S. History (completed)
- Class F — U.S. Local History (completed)
- Class G — Geography; Anthropology (completed)
- Class H — HJ — Social Sciences (completed)
- Class HM—HX — Social Sciences (continuing)
- Class J — Political Science (continuing)
- Class K — Law (completed)
- Class L — Education (completed)
- Class M — Music (continuing)
- [Class N — Art (not selected for treatment due to common use of coated or super-calendared paper for art books)]
- Class P — Language and Literature (completed)
- Class Q — Science (continuing)
- Class R — Medicine (selected areas)
- Class S — Agriculture (selected areas)
- Class T-TX — Technology, Engineering (selected areas)
- Class U-V — Military and Naval Science (selected areas)
- Class Z — Bibliography (selected areas)
Prospective Collections (new acquisitions)
- All materials reviewed for possible treatment
Contact
Binding and Collections Care Division
Adrija Henley, Acting Chief
[email protected]
