Rounding and backing

There are conflicting points of view regarding rounding and backing
of commercially bound library materials.  On the one hand, rounding
and backing is said to damage and weaken paper and some leaf
attachments.  On the other hand, rounding and backing is said to
enhance a volume's structural strength and openability.

I have reviewed the Library Binding Institute Standard for Library
Binding  and Jan Merrill-Oldham and Paul Parisi's Guide to the LBI
Standard for Library Binding.  These sources recommend rounding and
backing in general, but recommend against the practice in some
specific cases.

Many commercial binderies are now recommending against rounding and
backing entirely, while others still encourage this service.  Has
anyone had success with having their commercial bindery round and
back only under certain conditions?  And has the general consensus
regarding rounding and backing changed since these standards were
written?

Caroline Gilderson-Duwe
Preservation Dept.
Golda Meir Library
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
414-229-6726
Fax: 414-229-6791

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 9:56
                Distributed: Thursday, January 25, 1996
                        Message Id: cdl-9-56-014
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