Library Style Binding

 Registration is closed for this event

August 9th, 2014 1:17 AM

  • Instructor: Michael Burke
  • Workshop Type: Binding
  • Workshop Status: Closed
  • Workshop Start: August 9th, 2014 1:17 AM
  • Workshop End: August 10th, 2014 12:00 AM
  • Sessions: 2

The Library Style was developed for the British Museum at the end of the nineteenth century by Douglas Cockerell, as a way of binding books which needed to be extremely robust yet could remain pleasing to use and would open well. The book is sewn on heavy tapes and has a hidden cloth joint, which together form a flange that is glued into laminated split boards for strength. The edges are sprinkled and waxed, and a hollow back added to the spine. The book is covered in heavy-duty buckram, with special ‘library-style’ corners for added strength. The endpapers are put down and a gold-tooled leather title label added. The Library Style is ideal for heavy books which get a lot of use and need to be extra strong, such a dictionaries, cook books or manuals.


Materials to bring: bone folder, metal ruler, scalpel, cutting mat, dividers

Date & Time: Saturday & Sunday, August 9 & 10, 2014 |  9:30am – 5:30pm

Workshop + Materials Fee: $350

Prerequisites: None

Please review the SF Center for the Book Registration Policies before signing up for a class


About the Instructor | Michael Burke

Michael Burke studied bookbinding with Dominic Riley and paper conservation with Karen Zukor. Michael lives in the Lake District, England, where he teaches bookbinding as well at events across the UK. He is a past chair of the North West and North Wales region of SoB. He has taught for diverse book arts groups in the USA, including Los Angeles, Seattle and Salt Lake City. In recent years he has taught at the Paper and Book Intensive, travelled to São Paulo to teach for the Brazilian group ABER, and in 2011 presented Byzantine binding at the Seminar of the Guild of Bookworkers. Michael researches the structures of ancient and medieval bindings. He is currently studying for a Masters degree in the History of the Book at the University of London.

Past Student Reviews

"This is a brilliant class!"

"Superb teacher; excellent instruction that was always clear and pertinent, friendly to everyone"

"Michael is a gem of a teacher! I always love to take his classes!"

"So organized, excellent clear explanations, superb teacher, great that materials were well prepared"