How to Save a Book That is Falling Apart

Sometimes we love our books to death, literally. Here is how to deal with a book whose binding has given up the ghost.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• A useful, but damaged book
• Ring binder
• Three-hole punch OR
• Enough plastic sheet protectors to hold all the pages.

1. Decide whether to punch the pages themselves or use page protectors. If the pages of the book are at least 8 X 10, and the paper is fairly new, the pages can be punched. For older books, and those with small pages, use sheet protectors.
2. Punch pages and insert in a new ring binder. Be sure the rings meet perfectly, or the pages will tear.
3. Smaller or older pages may be placed in sheet protectors before placing in the binder. Many books are small enough that two pages can be inserted into each sheet protector. Be aware that this will disrupt the pagination, but for books like treasured cookbooks, it may be worth the trouble of having to hunt for the page you want.

Tips & Warnings

• A 400-page cookbook will require a 3-inch binder if the pages are placed two to a sheet protector.
• Take very old, rare, or valuable books to a professional bookbinder!