Restringing Bound Journals

Overview

Journals used to be bound with cardboard covers and string. There are a number of these older journals in the Serials Stacks.

In order to photocopy articles from volumes bound in this manner, it is often necessary to cut the strings. Patrons sometimes do this, but more often, Interlibrary Loan cuts the strings when they copy articles for other libraries.

After the strings are cut, the volumes need to be rebound.

In most cases, it is our policy to send these journals out to be bound, NOT to re-string them in-house.

Policies

Interlibrary Loan has volunteered (as of Summer 2008) to re-string journals they cut. This is fine. Should ILL need additional needles or stringing materials, they are available from Technical Services. Should ILL choose to discontinue re-stringing the journals they cut, this is also fine.

Any journals bound with string that arrive in Technical Services for re-stringing should NOT be re-strung, but sent to our binding vendor to be bound.

The EXCEPTIONS to this rule are a) journals with Dewey call numbers and b) journals which for one reason or another cannot be bound. The Binding Technician will be responsible for restringing these volumes or directing a student to do so.

The goal when re-stringing or re-binding volumes should be to minimize the unavailability of the content to library patrons. Volumes and issues should not sit on the shelves in Technical Services for an extended period of time.

How to Re-String Journals

This video illustrates the technique for re-stringing journals: