Library Style Binding

 Registration is closed for this event

July 14th, 2018 9:30 AM

  • Instructor: Michael Burke
  • Workshop Type: Binding
  • Workshop Status: Closed
  • Workshop Start: July 14th, 2018 9:30 AM
  • Workshop End: July 15th, 2018 5:30 PM
  • Sessions: 2

The Library Style is an ideal book structure for large or heavy books that get a lot of use and need to be extra strong. Coming straight out of the Account Book tradition at the end of the nineteenth century, the Library Style was developed by the British Museum as a way of binding books which needed to be extremely robust yet could remain pleasing to use and would open well.

This book is sewn on heavy tapes with a hidden cloth joint for strength. Together they form a flange that is glued into laminated split boards: making a very strong attachment of the book to its cover. The book edges are then sprinkled, burnished and waxed, with a hollow back added to the spine. The book is covered in heavy-duty buckram, with special ‘library’ corners for added strength. The endpapers are put down and a gold-tooled leather title added.

After this class you will be able to bring all your dilapidated reference books back to life housed inside this very strong cloth binding.


Materials to Bring: Scalpel —#4 handle, #25 blades (available from Havells).

Optional and available at SFCB for student use during class: bone folder, metal ruler, dividers.

Workshop Fee (includes $50 materials fee): $350.00

Date & Time: Saturday & Sunday, July 14 & 15, 2018 :: 9:30am-5:30pm

Location: 375 Rhode Island St, San Francisco, CA 94103

Note: Please read over the SFCB Registration Policies before signing up for a class

REGISTRATION WILL CLOSE 3 DAYS PRIOR TO THE START DATE OF THIS WORKSHOP.


About the Instructor | Michael Burke

Michael Burke studied bookbinding with Dominic Riley and paper conservation with Karen Zukor. He lives in the Lake District, where he teaches bookbinding. In recent years he has taught and lectured at Society of Bookbinders conferences and seminars, and at Guild of Bookworkers meetings in the USA, as well as teaching tours in Australia, New Zealand and Brazil. Each year he teaches summer school at the San Francisco Center for the Book and across the USA. Michael researches the structures of ancient and medieval bindings, and has a Masters degree in the History of the Book from the University of London.


Past Student Reviews:

“Michael was excellent.”

“Michael is a great teacher and understands that some of us love binding and are trying really hard to become great binders.”

“As always taking a class with MIchael is enjoyable, He is calm and very organized.”

“Michael not only  is very organized, he presents instructions with ease and make students feel comfortable. Love is sense of humor.”

375 Rhode Island St
San Francisco, CA 94103-5133
United States