Fill Out a Binding Slip

You can find a binding slip at: binding slip.

You can fill out the slip online and print it out on your printer OR you can download the slip to your computer and use it as a template.

Sets are books on the same title within a shipment of books for binding. Marking sets allows bindery staff to insure that the line-up for cover lettering will be uniform for books of the same title. This is particularly important for journals.

For example, if you are sending 4 sets of journals for binding of the “Journal of the American Medical Association” you would indicate “4” in the small box at the top of the left hand column of the binding slip.

Select the product or style of binding you want for the book. “Buckram” refers to hardcover books that will be covered in buckram book cloth. Most libraries select buckram for their journals and books. Other cover materials are available (C-1 cloth, imitation leather, and genuine leather).

Please see our product catalog for a complete description of bindery products.

Select the cloth color you desire for the cover of the book. Journals of the same title are customarily bound in the same color.

You can request a swatch book of cloth colors from the bindery or you can view them online here.

You may wish to use C-1 cloth in place of buckram for your small or light weight monographs (under 2 lbs). C-1 cloth is a lighter weight material than buckram.

Select the foil color to be used for cover lettering.

If you wish to add custom finishing such as “bands” or “paneling”, check the appropriate button.

Bindery staff will review all material prior to binding to insure that there are sufficient margins for the binding process.

You may desire special handling for some volumes, however. For example, music scores must lay flat when open in order to be played.  In this example you would check “sew flat” and we will select binding methods that will allow the book to lay flat when open. 

Under standard bindery procedures, books are bound in the order they are received. We do not remove advertisements (ads) or move indexes or tables of contents. If you wish us to provide this service for a particular book please indicate it here. 

It may be necessary to remove the back covers on some journals in order to facilitate the binding process, particularly covers which are stiff or coated. We will not remove back covers that contain essential information such as a table of contents.

Use the boxes on the right hand side of the binding slip to indicate the lettering you wish for the spine of the book cover. The boxes help to group information together and indicate where the lettering will appear on the book spine.

Box 1: Indicate the title of your journal. If the book is a monograph, use this box to indicate the author (if desired). If no author name is desired, indicate the book title.

Box 2: For journals, indicate any sub-title that may be required. For monographs, use this box to indicate the title of the book unless you have previously provided it in box #1

Box 3: For journals, indicate any variable information you require (for example, volume number, issue numbers, years, etc.). For assistance in formatting or abbreviating variable information please refer to the University of California spine lettering standard.

Box 4: Indicate any call number and/or imprint you wish for the book. Please type or print the information exactly as you wish it to appear on the spine. Include all line breaks and use upper or lower case characters as appropriate. Bindery staff will follow your lettering exactly.

If you require any assistance in completing your binding slips please contact us at (510) 665-2171.