Re: In-house binding Duhon, Lucy C 28 Jun 2005 21:51 UTC
Jeff, Over the past couple of years our commercial binding budget has been reduced by about 80%. To address this problem, we've begun to "Therm-A-Bind" more titles (we had always used this method to store incomplete volumes but now we're using our existing supplies to permanently store some titles). We've also begun to store some titles in Princeton files (this works well for shorter and thicker issues -- especially ones we don't intend to shelve for more than a few years). For Therm-A-Binding, we use a "ThermaBind GBC 2000 XT" machine from General Binding Corporation (I think we paid about $375 for it a few years ago, when we replaced our older machine). It can bind units up to 2" thick in the spine. Expect to pay about $1 per binding cover (these range from less than 1" to 2" in spine width). The spine contains adhesive. Our bindery specialist employs student assistants (at up to $6 per hour) to help her "thermabind" volumes. A student assistant can probably bind about 10-12 units per hour (including collating and labeling). Princeton file boxes range in price from about $3 to $5 per box, depending on the quantity ordered. I want to add that for the shrinking percentage of titles not perpetually available to us online we still prefer to commercially bind; we use the methods I mention above mostly for semi-permanent handling of material -- for limited retention titles, lower use titles, etc. I think that commercial binding is still a very good deal for the quality product you get. I hope this gives you some idea of the cost comparison you're looking for. - Lucy Duhon. Lucy Duhon Serials Librarian Carlson Library/Serials Dept. University of Toledo Toledo, OH 43606 (Mail Stop # 509) (419) 530-2838 (419) 530-2726 [fax] lucy.duhon@utoledo.edu -----Original Message----- From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum [mailto:SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf Of Jeff Flynn Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2005 10:54 AM To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU Subject: [SERIALST] In-house binding Does anyone have experience with in-house binding? We are thinking binding some of our miscellaneous materials in the library instead of sending them out to our commercial bindery. Any info on equipment, labor, savings...would be appreciated. ________________________________________________________________________ _____________ Jeff Flynn Tel: (617) 305-1603 Serials/Bibliographic Control Librarian Fax: (617) 723-3164 Suffolk University Law Library Email: jflynn@acad.suffolk.edu 120 Tremont St. Boston, MA 02108 ________________________________________________________________________ _____________