That time a library board told me to stop repairing their 1890s atlas

I was doing a small repair job at the public library in my town, fixing some worn spines on their reference section. The head librarian pulled me aside and handed me this MASSIVE 1890s atlas of the county, with the binding completely split down the middle. She said they wanted it put back together with duct tape and super glue because it was just 'old junk' they needed to last another year. I spent 20 minutes explaining how that would ruin the paper and the stitching forever. She finally let me do a proper Japanese tissue repair and resew the signatures with linen thread, but only after I promised to do it for free. Has anyone else run into people who treat historic books like they're disposable?

2 comments

2 Comments

emerycarr17d agoTop Commenter

That 1890s atlas sounds like a treasure! I actually read an article last year about how vinegar and salt were used in old bookbinding glues, and how modern stuff like super glue reacts really badly with that. It can actually eat through the pages over time. You did the right thing pushing for Japanese tissue and proper thread, especially for a county atlas that probably has maps nobody else has anymore.

the_cameron17d ago

Wait, does that mean the vinegar and salt residue is still active after 130+ years? Like could it still mess up a modern glue job if someone doesn't prep the spine right before repairing it?