This was a real test of knowledge and note taking, because for the first time, I didn't have anyone to ask for a second opinion on my work. When I first came in, I did a case tightening and started a reback:
I got as take the material off the back and cleaning the title.
After that, I had a little bit of time before the party to check and change the papers of the hygrothermograph.
The retirement party was at 10:00am. During this time I talked to people in other departments and learned more about interpersonal relations in the library. I met a woman from South Africa who is working with the library to study ways of funding research, in order to introduce these methods at her home library. I also took a few minutes to help the special collections department take down a display in preparation of putting up a new one.
Watching the communications of people is not something as easy to describe. I observed people showing their appreciating for one person, which is often in retrospect that they acknowledge what a key role that person played. Ellie and Sharlane together made up one department, each contributing their own abilities to the functions of that department. It was very clear that Ellie's coworkers respected her quality of work and companionship.
After the party, I asked Ellie to aid me in constructing my book because I would not be able to come to the practicum the next week. First she showed me how to sew a book, which is done with the use of twine.
-Collect the signatures and align them for the upright book press. This is done by tapping the bottom edge with a fold, then the spine edge with a fold (round your hand between your thumb and pointer finger), then the bottom edge again.
-Mark and make five holes that can be seen on the spine. I did this with an awl.
-Set up three pieces of twine on a sewing frame. The twine should be taut.
-Take the first signature and lay it down at the edge of the sewing frame, spine towards you. Line up the twine with the middle three holes.
-Open the signature to the center and secure one side between the twine and string. (This is shown in pictures)
-Using bookbinders wax, run the thread through this until it is evenly coated. The wax stiffens the thread and prevents bugs from eating it.
-Starting from the outside, thread the needle through the hole at one end, bringing it back out the first hole with the twine. Leave a tail so that there is string left to tie later. (For this book I sewed on the end sheets, which are more delicate. The end sheet should be first and last.)
-Without going through the twine or the string, loop the string around the twine and bring it back through the same hole. Do this for the next two pieces of twine.
-When exiting the last hole of the signature, be sure to adjust the string so that it is tight enough to make the twang noise. This includes the string around the twine-the tighter the better because this is what is risen on the outside of the book when it is bound. It will be more difficult if more of the twine is sticking out.
-Take down the suspended side of the first signature, and position the next signature similarly.
-Start back through this signature in the same way as the first, but when you get to the opposite side check both signatures for taut strings before tying them into a square knot.
-Continue to add another signature, positioning it open as before.
-When you get to the end of this signature, and tighten the string, you will need a way to secure it to the previous signatures. This is done by taking the string and looping it between the sewing of the two previous signatures.
--The string should go through the space between the threading of the last hole and the twine, then pulled to the outside between the signatures (Sharlane was taught to do this opposite because it is easier to grab the needle, but both ways work). Bring the string back around to the spine of the book (or the side facing you) and sew through the first hole of the next signature. When this is done and tightened, it should create a zigzag pattern along the outside stitching.
-When you get to your last signature, you can bring it back through as the previous step explains, but to finish, tie it to the lower strings.
This is a pretty basic account of how to sew a book. It is complicated at first, but with a little practice it goes rather quickly. Below are photos of the book I worked on while at home for spring break:
I created my own sewing frame with equal sized blocks of wood taped to the table, along with skewers securing the twine at the top and bottom (as show above).
The supplies I took with me were a needle, the wax for the thread, and size 18 thread-for use on thin paper.
When you run out of string, simply attach another portion (preferably using a square knot) and trim the edges before continuing your sewing.
I was shown to go from the outside in, which creates a little loop around the previous signatures' stitching that must be pulled tight before beginning the next signature.
Leave a little string at the end in case you need to work with it later.
I had some trouble with the end sheet ripping on the last signature, because the paper is more delicate.
I helped Ellie pack up her things and load her car. The parting words Ellie left me with was: You have a long time to be an adult. I think it was a way of saying, be sure to do what makes you happy, and don't rush into a career. Go out and experience as much as you can. There is a lot of advice people can give you throughout the world, but not many were so heartfelt and clearly the product of experience as Ellie's advice to me.
I left the library at 3:00pm today, because there was little else I could do and I needed to make sure I didn't miss the bus back to Kent.
*If any processes are repeated in my blog, it is because they were repeated during my practicum experience. I apologize for any redundancy.
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