Preparation Levels and Profiles

Serials and Journals

All volumes sent for library binding must go through a preparation process prior to commencing the binding process. However, serials or journals, in particular, may require extensive preparation, the level of which will depend on a number of important factors including, but not limited to:

  • Condition of the paper
  • Condition of the original binding
  • Binding structure
  • Trim margins
  • Binding margins
  • Inclusion of maps or refolded pages
  • Mounted photographs
  • Stiff or glossy covers that must be bound in
  • Advertisements or addenda that need to be removed
  • Contents or indexes that must be moved
  • Multiple issues of varying sizes bound together

Levels of Preparation

There are two levels of preparation for serials:

  1. Standard non-collate
  2. Standard preparation

Each serial job lot within a shipment to the bindery should indicate the level of preparation required. The information provided below has been designed to assist you in accurately determining the appropriate level of preparation for your serials:

STANDARD NON-COLLATE (SNC)

This level is appropriate for serials that require minimal preparation for binding, and the library will assume the responsibility for all preparation functions. Since these volumes require less preparation labor at the bindery, serials sent as SNC will have lower recharge rates than serials sent for standard preparation.

SNC Preparation Profile:

  • Volumes will be bound in the condition and order received
  • All issues of a volume must be of the same height and width (slight size variance is acceptable)
  • Minimum ¼” margin on the front, top and bottom of each issue
  • Minimum ½” binding margin
  • Volume thickness should not exceed 2”
  • No refolded pages that fold “up and down” (top to bottom). This material should be sent in standard preparation job lots as these volumes should be stubbed
  • No full page spreads
  • No pocket material
  • No signatures over 1/8” thick

SNC Preparation Checklist

The following steps must be taken to prepare SNC material for shipment to the bindery:

  • Check to ensure there are no missing issues
  • All issues must be in the proper order
  • Torn pages should be mended with archival tape (the bindery can supply this).
  • All “dog eared” pages must be fixed
  • Remove all wire stitches
  • Refolds folded to the front of the volume must be refolded so that the fold is a minimum of ½” from the front of the volume
  • Remove all stiff or glossy covers that do not contain essential print
  • Where glossy covers are saved, all back to back covers must be “scuffed” a minimum of ¼” along the binding margin

STANDARD PREPARATION (PREP)

This level is appropriate for all serials that do not meet the standard non-collate profile outlined above. This material requires more extensive preparation for binding. The bindery will check for the completeness of the volume, will makes appropriate page repairs, hinge or treat stiff covers, scan all margins to insure they are sufficient for binding (designating those with insufficient margin for special treatment), process coated stock covers in preparation for adhesive binding and perform any other required functions.