Volumes – or books – are composite objects that can come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, weights and materials. While binding styles may have changed over the centuries, the component parts of a volume remain broadly similar.
The binding structure of a book.
Covers (or boards) and spines may be flexible or rigid, according to the materials they are made from, and the style in which they have been bound. The volumes in The National Archives’ collection are typically made from paper, parchment, or vellum. Their condition can vary and this should be the primary consideration when preparing to handle a volume.
Areas of vulnerability:
- Volumes must never be placed flat on a table surface and forced open – the joint where the cover and spine meet is vulnerable to damage through stress caused by incorrect handling.
- If the spine of a volume becomes damaged or detached, the sewing structure beneath, which joins sections together to create a text block, is vulnerable. Once the sewing has been damaged, pages are at risk of becoming detached and lost.
- Unlike volumes with a protective spine piece, tight-back spines – like those on paperback volumes – move and flex as the volume is opened and closed. Over-extension can lead to cracking of covering material and adhesive. Again, pages are then at risk of becoming detached and lost.
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- Example of wear and loss to the spine and covering material.
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- Example of extreme damage to the sewing structure of a volume, resulting in pages becoming detached.
Handling aids:
- Wedges should be used to support the whole volume during use. They should be the same size or slightly larger than the volume itself.
- Flat pads can be placed under the wedge to add extra height and provide a raised support for volume covers. Adjust these supports as needed when moving through the volume.
- Spine supports provide support to the spine of tight-back volumes that flex as they open and close (e.g., paperback volumes). They can also be useful when the spine piece has completely detached and the sewing structure is exposed.
- Snake weights can be placed across the corners of pages to hold them in place. They should not be placed on areas of text or media. Bag and glass weights are not suitable for use with volumes as they may slide from the page or cause the page to sag under their weight, leading to damage.
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- Wedges support access to a hardback volume.
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- Wedges and a spine insert support access to a tight-back volume.
Handling top tips:
- Where volumes are housed in boxes, they should be removed with care. Ensure they are adequately supported by placing one hand onto the cover and turning the entire box gently, releasing the volume onto the table surface.
- Turn pages slowly, one at a time, being mindful or tears or folds that could be made worse.
- Avoid touching areas of text directly when reading – use the paper markers provided to follow lines of text.
- When folded material is found inside a bound volume, this should be unfolded with care and with adequate space to support – wedges or flat pads can be used to extend the support surface. It is important to ensure the items is re-folded in the correct order – the fold direction should not be changed.
- Where cover and boxes have been secured with cotton tape, these should be replaced.
For more handling tips, watch our guidance video on how to handle volumes.