Re: GEN: Trade vs. Library Bindings

[Joan Kimball <jkim@BORG.COM>]

Julie Conklin wrote:
>I am puzzled about something and I am sure that this
>is the group with the answer! I seem to recall reading
>an article a while back that mentioned one way of
>saving $ is to purchase materials with trade bindings
>rather than library bindings. I am a new SLMS in a
>K-5 and in the process of putting together my first
>book order. The wholesaler that I want to use offers
>a 40% discount on trade bindings and 20% on
>library bindings.
>My questions are: do library bindings noticably hold
>up better?   Is the extra cost worth it?
>I will post a hit if there is enough of a response.
>TIA
>Julie Conklin
>School Library Media Specialist
>Benjamin Franklin Elementary School
>Binghamton, New York
>
>Registered ICC User
>check out http://www.usefulware.com/icc.html


I too am in a K-5 school.  It is my experience (20 yrs.+) that trade
bindings hold up least well to hard use compared with both library bindings
and paper bindings.
Some publishers' library bindings are not that strong, but Bound to Stay
Bound does a super job at protecting a book with a tough binding.  The
problem with BoundtoStayBound is that their books are not quite as
attractive as other prebounds. (They do, however, send you the jackets for
most of the books, so you could spruce the covers up with the jackets.)
Permabound does a great job of prebinding both hard covers and paperbacks
using the jacket art.

Unless you are buying a rarely used reference book, I'd stick to either
library bindings, or paperbacks.  Your other alternative, which is quite
good, is to buy the prebound paperbacks from a company such as Permabound
or Econoclad or Demco or Follett.  The prebound will stand up a long
time....almost as long as Bound to Stay Bound's heavy duty library
bindings.

Just about all your picture books for K-2 should be library bound.  You
might also want to get some extra copies of heavily used K-2 books in
paper, but they will take quite a beating, even if you cover them with
transparent contac or tape.

Others may not agree, but I buy the bulk of my 3-5 fiction in paperback
because a) fiction goes out of date pretty fast, b) gr.3-5 kids prefer
paperbacks, c) if it's not popular you won't have wasted so much money; if
it's super popular you'll want several copies anyway.
I would buy two copies of a new fiction paperback--if you don't already
have the hard copy--because it just doesn't seem worth cataloging one
little old paperback fiction.

Another category for paperback buys would be useful but not heavily used
nonfiction books, such as Janice Van Cleave's science experiment books, and
almanacs and road atlases.

Cataloging can be a problem when buying paperbacks.  You can get close to a
40% discount on your paperback buys at Ingram but they won't do your
cataloging for you. I tend to buy fiction, almanacs, paperback atlases at
Ingram and the rest where I can get cataloging. I also get fiction at local
stores and at the school book fair.  Mackin Book Co. will sell you
paperbacks cataloged, but not at Ingram's discount.  Mackin is especially
helpful because they undertake to get any book in print.  Covercraft, too,
will catalog your paperbacks. Again, no discount.

Here are some phone numbers for catalogs:
Permabound 1-800-637-6581**
Follett Library Resources 1-800-435-6170
Cover Craft 1-800-831-4190**                         **These catalogs have
Bound to Stay Bound 1-800-637-6586                     annotations, too!

Mackin---doesn't have a catalog as they will get any book in print.

Ingram---no catalog, but you can ask them for their fiches once or twice a
year. Ingram prefers phone orders using their catalog numbers or the ISBNs.

Joan




Joan Kimball (jkim@borg.com)
Clinton, NY
Hart's Hill Elementary School Library
Clark Mills Road, Whitesboro, NY 13492