The Christchurch City Libraries Bindery is responsible for the maintenance, repair and protection of library stock and also offers a comprehensive range of services to the public. The bindery has been operating since 1952.
Located at 180 Smith Street on the corner with Linwood Avenue, the Bindery is open between 8am and 4.30pm, Monday to Friday. Contact the team on 941 7923 or by emailing LibraryPreservation@ccc.govt.nz.
Read the 17 July 2023 Newsline article Providing books with an extra life to find out more about the Bindery.
Our services include:
- Covering, strengthening and repairs
- Book covers
- Protecting special items
- The Bindery also sells some bookbinding material.
Covering and strengthening
Paperbacks and magazines
A clear, semi-rigid self-adhesive covering is applied to front and back covers plus the spine along with reinforced tape applied to the hinges, then trimmed all around. This treatment protects and strengthens the books and is not reversible.
Cost: Single books $7.50 each
Time: up to five while you wait, over five items, 24 hours.
For the DIY person, the plastic covering can be purchased from $2 per sheet depending on size, spine tape from $12 per roll and filament tape $15 per roll.
Dust jackets
There is a range of removable plastic dust jackets in sizes to suit most books that protect the original dust jackets. Please note: these are only suitable for books that already have dust jackets and cannot be put on hard covers.
Cost: $5 each.
Time: Usually while you wait.
Protecting special items
Sometimes it is best that old and valuable items are given greater protection. The Bindery can custom-make enclosures from museum-grade corrugated board to the specific measurements of each item. This will neatly protect them. These enclosures can also be used to store valuable memorabilia, wedding dresses and multiple postcards and letters.
Cost: from $35.
Time: Normally two weeks.
