HIT>Trade vs. Library Bindings (long)

[Julie Conklin <juliec@SPECTRA.NET>]

Thanks to all who responded to my question about the
worth of library bindings over trade. The general
consensus seems to be that, yes, library bindings are
indeed worth the extra cost. Some respondents also
swear by Bound to Stay Bound and similar companies.
I also learned that various bindings may serve different
purposes, depending upon the amount of use you can
expect a particular subject, author, or series to have.
There are many valuable opinions in these responses. My
orders and my collection will be the better for them.
************************************************

I would get the cheaper trade bindings for ephemeral fiction (unless you
relegate those to paperback vendors already).  For fiction that will be
used with a program like Accelerated Reader or Electronic Bookshelf I'd get
the best binding available (library bindings or Bound to Stay Bound
company) since those titles will get a lot of use.
Permabound holds up well for popular fiction like teen romances.
For nonfiction that you expect to get heavy use (animal books or science
project materials, perhaps) go for the library bindings.  Nonfiction with
limited circulation might be o.k. in trade binding.  Those areas that need
to be updated frequently (computer and some science areas, for example)
should also be o.k. in trade bindings since their useful shelf life is
relatively short.
If you expect to keep it FOREVER, get Bound to Stay Bound books.
My kids haven't destroyed one yet!
"Va. Martin, Ketron Middle School"
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I'm a LMS for 2 buidings. We have an unusual configuration. One building is
a Pre-school-1st building and the other is a 2-3 building. About 400
students in each building. Now to get to the point..I believe there is a
difference in the two types of bindings. And would go one step further.
Bound to Stay Bound Books
has wonderful binding far superior to library binding.
Maryann Goree
Chehalis, WA 98532
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Trade bindings absolutely fall apart quicker than library bindings. Even
better are reinforced bindings, from companies such as Permabound or Bound
to Stay Bound.  I use these more expensive bindings especially for class
sets of 30 copies of the same title. An example of trade binding are the
Dorling Kindersley sets from that publisher. They offer wonderful full-size
detailed pictures of animals, cars, plants, etc. D-K cuts their pages
extremely close to the binding with little reinforcement, thus falling
apart quickly. They are also offered from Permabound and will definitely
last longer. Kids are hard on books. Spend the extra few bucks for the
library bindings to make sure these books will be in the library after a
year or two. Otherwise you have more books now, but will need to replace
them very quickly. Obviously I'm passionate about this subject. I was the
head of the children's dept. at a large public library before coming to the
school district, so I've seen large amounts of trade books circulate & fall
apart, while the library bindings keep holding up.
Carol Sturz, Batavia Middle School, IL
***********************************************************                    I
believe that the library bindings are worth the extra money IF
you have the money to spend.  Since most of us are on tight budgets, I
spend the money for library bindings on books that I think will have heavy
circulation.  Books that will be used "on occasion" (if ever), I would just
buy with a trade binding.  Teachers have a tendency to request materials
and then rarely use them. Know what I mean?             -Marsha Sullivan,
Newburyport, MA
***********************************************************
Julie - the extra cost is worth it.  It is even worth it to skip the
library binding and go to re-bound books, such as Bound to Stay Bound.  I
can also order from a company at 40% off list (they specialize in the
retail market) and last year I did get about a dozen books from them.  They
were able to get them to me very quickly, which is another reason I went
with them.  They are a good, responsive company that the public library I
worked for in NJ dealt with.  But, their books are not the best choice for
a school.  Consider this: the books are being handled and checked out
without that direct, one on one parental supervision you get in a public
library.  Because you are dealing with something of a closed user group, a
book can unexpectedly become so popular that it is literally never shelved.
Trade books can never stand up to that kind of life.  Several of those
books I ordered from Koehn, as well as the hardcovers from last year's
Scholastic book fair, are candidates for replacement.  Once you buy the
same book a second time within  a year, you've lost that discount.
        Will your wholesaler supply you with catalog kits or data disks, if you're
automated?  I would love to do my own cataloguing, but don't have the time.
 I like to use a company whose cataloguing I can trust.  Your time is worth
a good deal, and you are not wasting money if you someone else who is
qualified to take over that function for you.
        If you want to try Koehn, they are in Moorestown, New Jersey.   You can
get their number from 800 information. I like their service, but I love the
durability and quality of Bound to Stay Bound.  I even love their call
labels!!
Marcia Millere, Thomasville, GA 31792
**********************************************************
        I personally feel that the library bindings are well worth the
money. I have a very small budget so I get the best that we can afford.
I have found that the trade bindings( especially popular titles), last
only a fraction of times compared to library bindings. For what it's worth.
Deborah McLaughlin
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Julie,  From my experience of 22 years in an elementary school, they make
a BIG DIFFERENCE!   Trade bindings of popular fiction and heavily-used
picture books will not withstand the usage.  Because of the expense, I do
buy both types and, in addition, will use paperback prebounds to fill in.
Bonnie Keyser
West Chester, PA 19380
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I take the trade books with the 40% discount when I can.  Two copies for
a little more than the price of one.  This means the one books doesn't
get as many circulations.  I also will take paperbacks.
Linda Bryniarski, Lansdale, PA
*******************************************************
Julie, trade bindings are cheaper than library bindings.  In most cases
library bindings have extra glue and that extra cloth hinge inside the
cover.  You can figure on a trade binding holding up to about 5
checkouts.  A library binding goes usually 10 or more.
   I like pre-bound bindings the best.  Perma-Bound is the company that
does the most pre-binding.  They take the cover off the book, laminate
the cover, and reattach it so that the cover will NEVER wear out.  If it
does somehow, they have an unconditional, life-time guarantee.  Call
them, tell them, and they will send you a new one.  You don't have to
send back the old one.  Bound-to-Stay Bound does a different kind of
pre-binding, but I object to the appearance of their books.  They don't
EVER wear out--they just sit on your shelves looking ugly forever.
    Perma-bound usually gives a 24% discount off their catalog price.
Call their 800 number for excellent customer service.
Donna Cook, library teacher, Nacogdoches, TX
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Do they provide barcode labels and discs too? I would be interested
in getting the information so I could call them and get a catalog
sent. I usually order library bindings when I have a choice. I do see
a difference in the bindings when I get books from our local book
store and they are used heavily. For example, I found some cheap
copies of some "I spy" books and they fell apart very quickly. I like
to use PermaBound for heavy use books...they give 20% as part of the
NY State Contract.
Jan Wright
*******************************************************
        Yes, library bindings do hold up much better than trade bindings.
This is especially important with young children--say, below grade three.  A
good library binding should hold up for at least a hundred circulations.  A
really popular easy reader may circulate 20 times a year.  20% is a pretty
good discount on library bindings (in the sense that it used to be just
10-15%).  I know it's hard to mix binding specifications in the same order,
but you might try buying books for grades K-3 in library bindings, and books
for grades 4-5 in trade binding.  Another way to save is to buy paperbacks
in reinforced editions.  The problem with doing this with picture books is
that they are so skinny they practically disappear on the shelf.  Then
again, if you buy a book and it stays on the shelf, the extra money for a
strong binding is wasted.  IHTH!
Cindy Carr, Librarian        Cleveland, OK 74020
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Julie, my experience (13 yrs as an elementary media specialist) is that
books with really tough bindings are worth it.  I try to order from Bound
to Stay Bound, whose books last way longer than any trade binding or
library binding and whose covers can be sprayed with 409 and scrubbed
clean.  The cost of BTSB is almost always less than list, often less than
discounted list.  My only complaint about them is that a stack of new BTSB
books is kind of slippery - they may slide off the checkout desk!
Donna J. Reidhead                               Timnath, Colorado 80547
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Julie - As an lms who has been buying library bindings for 15 years, I
say emphatically that they hold up far better and are worth the extra
money for any titles that you want to have around for a while.  I just
bought a whole new collection for a new school library in 1995 and bought
about 90% library bindings, from Bound to Stay Bound.  I only bought
trade bindings in reference, professional, and in series and award titles
that were not available otherwise.
Judy Smith       Fayetteville, AR 72703    jsmith@nwark.com
***********************************************************
One way of saving $ may be to buy trade bindings--but you will wind up
replacing the books faster because they do not hold up for continual
checkouts, especially by children.  For example, if your library has a
copy of Shel Silverstein's WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS, look at the
binding.  Usually they are in terrible shape when they are trade
bindings.  If there is a library binding available, I usually purchase
it over a trade binding--even with a generous discount.
Joy Shaup, Elementary Librarian
Seoul International School, Seoul, Korea
**********************************************************
I always buy library bindings when I can, especially if you think the
book will be popular enough to be checked out often.  Many times I end
up having trade binding books rebound which gets expensive.  I too get
the same discounts but feel the library bound is a better deal.
Mary Buitendorp
************************************************************
I'd like to hear the answer you receive if it is different than mine.
My experience shows Don't get Trade bindings.  They do not hold up
anywhere near lib. bindings.  You get trade bindings in book stores.  Of
course, if they won't be used all the time...then sometimes its not bad
to go with that kind.
Good luck deciding!   Jane Green
*************************************************************
I've been in the field for 23 years and in my experience, I would
generally opt for the lower priced trade bindings except for books
that I know will circulate frequently (e.g. Marc Brown).
Actually 20% on library bindings is a pretty good deal. I find that
many jobbers offer from no discount at all to maybe 10%. It's always a
juggling act and you'll occasionally have a few books fall apart on
you, but for the most part, I'd go with the trade bindings. Good luck!
Joe Light
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Julie,  welcome to the book ordering world! Yes, I only buy trade when I
have a choice. I think the trade bindings last longer! Actually, I have
not noticed any difference except in the price. I've done it for 8 years
and have been told to do so by many experienced SLMSs.  Good Luck.
Linda Zoppa
***********************************************************
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 Kimball (jkim@borg.com) Clinton, NY
***********************************************************
I would suggest that you weigh the anticipated number of circulations as
part of your decision-making process.  Picturebooks are heavily used and
trade editions will not hold up as well as library bindings.  On the
other hand fiction for grades four and five will probably be fine in
trade editions. Dinosaur and other high demand non-fiction may be best
purchased in library editions while other parts of the non-fiction
collection may survive just fine in trade editions. Consider all the
differing opinions you are bound to receive and then as the professional
on the spot make your own informed decision. Also you can always
change/adjust your actions the next time.
Therese Donahue, Cross River NY 10518
******************************************************
We're a high school
and buy fiction ONLY in paperback--VERY few exceptions.
We always order trade editions--
we're not an archives that should be keeping books forever.
If they wear out, it's an opportunity to replace or not.
Richard Librarian
********************************************************
If you get 20% on library bindings you are doing very well.  I get
around 13%.
Except for books that are heavily used, trade bindings are fine.
When you order a book, no matter how wonderful the review, you don't
know whether it will be a hit with the children.
Yes, there are books that fall apart, however the savings by
purchasing trade books allow you to get replacements, if necessary.
Judy Asher, Hillside School, Hastings-on-Hudson
*******************************************************
I have been a LMS in both an elementary and middle school, and I think you
definitely need library bindings. There is a great difference.  Whenever I
receive books with trade bindings, I always reinforce the hinges with clear
plastic tape. Even that does not insure good wear.  You might be able to get
away with it at a middle school, but definitely not at an elementary school.
Dorian Garbin (LMS), Allentown, PA
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Joan, I am convinced that purchasing trade bindings are considerably
more expensive.  I love Bound to Stay Bound.  Their books last
FOREVER!  Someone gave us a trade binding of Where's Waldo and we
purchased one at the same time from Bound to Stay Bound.  Of course
these books received much use, and within four months the trade
binding was all to pieces while we used Bound to Stay Bounds' copy
for three years.
I was able to show our school's accountant both books at four months,
and he was immediately convinced that we should continue using Bound
to Stay Bound when previously he had been on one of those "save,
save, save, at all costs!" binges that we all face sooner or later.
As far as Bound to Stay Bounds books not being as attractive as
others, I also purchase their laminated covers.  They are GREAT and
BEAUTIFUL!
Virginia
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In SLJ one article suggested to buy multiple trade bindings of books
you want.  That decreases the cost per book and if it's a really good
book, you will need more any way.  Also, if one gets damaged, you'll
always have a back up.  I never buy library bindings as a first
choice.  Yes, over 6 years, some of my favorite books are starting  to
look a little well loved.  I plan to buy a library binding for those,
like "Waldo", VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR, etc.  I have a great book
budget.  I buy books from a local bookseller at @25% off one time a
week and 20%other times and also at Half Price Books at an additional
5% off with my teacher discount.  I never buy a full price book.  I
use Alliance+ to catalog all or make originals.   All our books look
great!
Phyllis
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By the way, Perma-Bound is great...yes they do last forever and if not,
they send you a replacement with no problem at all.  They're also very
attractive.
Jane Green
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     IMHO, the cost is definitely worth the quality you receive in library
bindings. My personal favorite vendor is Bound to Stay Bound.
Ann Trotter, Olathe, Ks.
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YES THEY DO stand up better!   A trade book uses a paper hinge.  A Library
bound book uses a cloth hinge.  BIG DIFFERENCE!  (sorry about yelling!)
A trade book usually has a paper exterior covering, at least it did until
the plastic exteriors came along.  A Library bound book has a cloth or a
heavy duty plastic cover.
Mrs. Jeanette B. Heath, Red Creek, NY
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