Stiffening

Stiffening

In bookbinding, stiffening is a process whereby paperback books are reinforced for use in libraries, without change to their fundamental binding structure. It is in use at several academic libraries in the United States, including those at Cornell University and Johns Hopkins University.

During the stiffening process, a cloth or Tyvek strip is glued down on the inside joints of a paperback to reinforce the attachment of the book's covers. A thin but stiff board is then glued to the inside of both the front and back cover of the book, and the entire book is trimmed slightly on the head, tail, and fore edge, often with an electric guillotine.

Stiffening provides an in-house, inexpensive alternative to commercial library binding for paperbacks. While it does not involve (re-)sewing a book as in a library binding, stiffening does significantly prolong the usable life of a paperback, and allows paperbacks to stand upright on library shelves. The stiffening process was invented in 1974 by John Dean, who was Head of Preservation at Johns Hopkins at the time.

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  • Stiffening — Stiff en*ing, n. 1. Act or process of making stiff. [1913 Webster] 2. Something used to make anything stiff. [1913 Webster] {Stiffening order} (Com.), a permission granted by the customs department to take cargo or ballast on board before the old …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Stiffening — Stiffen Stiff en, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Stiffened}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Stiffening}.] [See {Stiff}.] 1. To make stiff; to make less pliant or flexible; as, to stiffen cloth with starch. [1913 Webster] Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood. Shak.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • stiffening — noun 1. the act of becoming stiff (Freq. 1) stiffening his shoulders, he prepared to advance • Derivationally related forms: ↑stiffen • Hypernyms: ↑procedure, ↑process 2. the process of becoming stiff or rigid …   Useful english dictionary

  • Stiffening order — Stiffening Stiff en*ing, n. 1. Act or process of making stiff. [1913 Webster] 2. Something used to make anything stiff. [1913 Webster] {Stiffening order} (Com.), a permission granted by the customs department to take cargo or ballast on board… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • stiffening — noun An item, material or feature that makes something stiffer than it would be without it …   Wiktionary

  • stiffening — stiff·en || stɪfn v. make stiff, make rigid; become stiff, become rigid …   English contemporary dictionary

  • stiffening bar — noun : stiffener d …   Useful english dictionary

  • ankylosis — Stiffening or fixation of a joint as the result of a disease process, with fibrous or bony union across the joint. [G. a., stiffening of a joint] artificial a. SYN: arthrodesis. bony a. SYN: synostosis …   Medical dictionary

  • rigor — Stiffening of muscle as a result of high calcium levels and ATP depletion, so that actin myosin links are made, but not broken …   Dictionary of molecular biology

  • crossbar deformity — stiffening of a segment of the lesser curvature of the stomach, usually due to healing of a deep penetrating ulcer …   Medical dictionary

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