Learn how to restore your dictionaries, encyclopedias and cookbooks with this extremely robust binding.
The Library Style is ideal for large or heavy books which 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.
The book is sewn on heavy tapes and has a hidden cloth joint for strength. Together they form a flange that is glued into laminated split boards: this makes for a very strong attachment of the book to its cover. The book edges are then sprinkled, burnished and waxed, and 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 in this very strong cloth binding.
Materials to Bring
None. All tools and materials will be provided.
About the Instructor
Name (pronouns) bio.
Past Student Reviews
“Michael is both entertaining and extremely knowledgeable. I learned new things and enjoyed refreshing skills I haven't used in a while. I also just love the bindery/SFCB space as a place for workshops.”
Location
San Francisco Center for the Book
375 Rhode Island Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
Registration Policies
Please read over the SFCB Registration Policies before signing up for a class. Registration will close approximately three days prior to the start date of the workshop to allow the instructor time to prep materials for class. We recommend you not wait to register, as workshops that don't meet our minimum enrollment will be canceled, sometimes as much as a week in advance.
Workshop fee
(includes materials fee):
$375
Prerequisite:
Bookbinding Core 1-4 or equivalent bookbinding experience sewing and binding books.
Class dates:
Saturday & Sunday, August 9 & 10, 2025
9:30 am-5:30 pm
If this workshop is full, please click this link to add your name to the waitlist. If a seat becomes available, we will contact you.