Tip #22: Leave repairs to the experts

Written By Dmitri Schmidt

So the worst has happened. The spine of your book has broken. A page has been torn out. But you’re not quite ready to call a conservator. What can you do?

First let's talk about what not to do. Under no circumstances should you use: tape, glue, staples, or paperclips to try and repair the damage. All of these supplies can cause even more damage to the book in the long term. (For more on office supplies to avoid and why, check out tip #15!)

Instead, try tying the book together, loose pages and all, with unbleached cotton tape. Despite the name, cotton tapes aren’t made with adhesives and won’t damage your book like scotch tape will. When you tie your knot, make sure it's on the spine or fore-edge of the book (see the second image [above]). Otherwise, when you reshelve it along with the rest of your books, the knot might cause an indentation on the cover.

Want to learn more about caring for your book collection? Check out our webinar on YouTube!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUZnW3sA-kI

#ArchivalTips #BacklogArchivists #Conservation #Preservation

Dmitri Schmidt

Dmitri plays a pivotal role in coordinating Backlog’s outreach efforts. They curate our weekly #FridayFinds and #ArchivalTips social media posts, shedding light on items discovered in our genealogy work and providing tips and tricks to approaching problems in the archives.

Dmitri holds a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and German Studies from Saint Louis University. During their university years, they dedicated over 1000 hours to interning and volunteering at local St. Louis institutions, including the St. Louis Science Center and the St. Louis University Museum of Art. As the Collections Intern at the Science Center, Dmitri assisted in developing and installing the "Into the Vault" exhibit.

Before joining Backlog, Dmitri served as a Fulbright Grantee, teaching English as a second language in former East Germany. From guiding 11th graders in analyzing pop albums as poetry to discussing the significance of the civil rights movement with 8th graders, they covered a broad spectrum of subjects. While reveling in connecting with students and injecting fun into grammar lessons, Dmitri's deep passion for all things archival eventually drew them back home.

Today, Dmitri works as a Herbarium Assistant at the Missouri Botanical Garden, helping digitize the millions of preserved plant specimens. After being scanned and transcribed, these images aid scholars around the globe in furthering botanical research. Dmitri also serves as the archivist for the Kirkwood Historical Society. They are currently overseeing the “Journeys into Kirkwood’s History” project, which aims to digitize documents related to Kirkwood’s early Black settlements.

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Tip #21: Handle books gently.