From Farm to Table: The Making of a Folio Edition. If you’ve ever found yourself drooling over the gorgeous slipcases, book covers, or interior designs of a Folio edition of a book, you know that they are something special.
For readers who haven’t had the chance to experience one in person, chances are that you’ve seen them featured somewhere on the internet, among the various roundups of most beautiful books. Folio editions are swoon-worthy additions to any bookshelf, from readers who are diehard collectors to those who simply want to add beauty to their personal collections. What goes into a Folio edition? How are books selected for the treatment? What’s the history of The Folio Society? A History of The Folio Society The Folio Society began in London in 1947, with the aim of publishing special editions of the best books from around the globe. Folio celebrates the book as a printed object. “Folio has always been conscious of its place in the history of fine press printing. What Makes Folio Books Special. Book Conservation - Ghosting and Sunning and Foxing, Oh My!
By Kristin Masters If you're new to the world of book collecting, you've undoubtedly encountered plenty of jargon already.
Rare and antiquarian book dealers often painstakingly describe a book's condition because it's such an important aspect of the book's value. Reputable dealers are as accurate as possible in their descriptions, and it's not unusual to run into the terms "ghosting," "sunning," and "foxing," all of which refer to different causes of discoloration to paper. Ghosting Sometimes also called shadowing, ghosting occurs when a paper fades unevenly and is left with a visible line between lighter and darker areas of the page. When you purchase a book, check it thoroughly - and gently - to find any rogue papers or adhesives.
Sunning Sunning refers to fading that occurs when a book is exposed to light. It's impossible to stop the breakdown once it starts, though removing your books from exposure to UV light can slow it considerably. How to Prevent and Reverse Foxing in Rare Books. There is never a wrong time to think about the effects of moisture and humidity on rare books.
Just as too much sun can damage your rare books, so can too much moisture. And we're not just talking about direct moisture, such as liquid spills. The relative humidity of the air is also a concern. Excess humidity (usually relative humidity above 75%) can encourage the growth of fungi and mildew, which can lead to foxing. ALA Library Fact Sheet 15: Weeding Library Collections: A Selected Annotated Bibliography for Library Collection Evaluation. “Next to emptying the outdoor bookdrop on cold and snowy days, weeding is the most undesirable job in the library.
It is also one of the most important. Collections that go unweeded tend to be cluttered, unattractive, and unreliable informational resources.” – Will Manley, “The Manley Arts,” Booklist, March 1, 1996, p. 1108. There are two aspects to weeding. The first is the writing of a collection development or selection policy that is appropriate for your community; this will serve as a guideline as you make decisions about your collection.
The second is applying that policy as you make decisions about the materials in your collection. AASL Resource Guides for School Library Media Program Development. An annotated bibliography of resources for collection development for all levels of school libraries. Baltimore County Public Schools. "Develop Your Core Library Collection. " The writers offer some suggestions on how to keep a library collection up-to-date. Evans, G. Johnson, Peggy. Weeding without Worry. Library weeding gets a bad reputation, thanks in part to weeding horror stories. In 2013, Highland Park (Mich.) High School was accused of throwing out a large collection of history materials, including some rare items, which had been cultivated over a 50-year period.
That same year, the Urbana (Ill.) Free Library discarded nearly 10,000 items, apparently just based on age, rather than condition or use. The discarding was done at the director’s command—while the head of adult services was on vacation. What usually happens is that a disgruntled (sometimes justifiably so) staff member sets off the alarm to the public about what’s happening behind closed stacks. It pains me to read about these situations for a number of reasons.
In 2001, while working for Chicago Public Library, I was accused by a local politician of destroying books while working on a massive and much-needed weeding project at a regional branch. Ideally, a library wouldn’t need to perform drastic weeding projects. Identify, Prevent, and Remove Mold and Mildew from Books. Imagine: You just came across a wonderful book in your favorite used book or thrift store, and it seems to be everything that you were looking for to add to your shelf.
It is nearly perfect, except for the pervasive, dank smell that comes along with it. Unfortunately, that smell can be an indication of improper storage in a cold, damp basement or uninsulated attic, leaving it open to the growth of mold and mildew. These fungi are the most common culprits of the familiar “old book smell,” but that odor is the least of the detrimental effects possible. Mold and mildew live off of organic material (leather, wood, paper, cloth) and over time their presence can weaken the structure of the book, stain the cover and pages, and prompt negative effects in your health, especially for folks with allergies or asthma.
It is important to identify the active growth of mold and mildew and remove it before it spreads through your entire library! Identification Mildew: Mold is often accompanied by mildew.