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Here is the information for purchasing books from 
companies.  

I personally prefer publisher hardcovers because I think 
they look nicer on the shelves. I do buy some bound glued 
books in cases where the book is only published by the 
publisher in paperback (like Gossip Girls). They are a
little bit more money than the paperback but will last much 
longer.  Typically the bound glued books have lifetime 
replacement guarantee which is a great selling point.

I tend to go towards the Co. Bound Glued.  Most 
companies "guaratee" their bindings, so if it doesn't hold 
up you can get it replaced.

You want librarian bound.  Sewn is best

I try to avoid purchasing the glued versions.  A publisher's 
hardback would be better than glued, but a sewn binding 
is always best.  I try to purchase most of my books from 
companies who re-bind with a library binding which is 
sewn.  I only accept glued when I MUST have the book 
and there is nothing else available.

Publisher's Hardcover is the same as the trade edition you 
buy in book stores. Library Binding or Reinforced is a 
rebound edition - usually obviously strengthened & almost 
always more expensive. Follettbound glued is a paperback 
that they have rebound using glue in the spine to hold the 
pages.  Follettbound sewed is a paperback that they have 
rebound, sewing in the pages.  Mackinbound, Turtlebound, 
etc., are the same.  

Bound to Stay Bound books are rebound in such a way as 
to be almost as sturdy as "library bound" books.  I quit 
buying Turtlebound books about 10 years ago because I 
felt that they were not holding up very well.  I have recently 
quit buying Follettbound for the same reason, although 
they guarantee to send you a brand new book at no 
charge if you are not satisfied with the way they wear.  
They will, indeed, do that, but I'm reluctant to ask over & 
over for new books just because one of their books wears 
out before I think it should.  I do buy Mackinbound books; 
they seem to me to hold up best next to the expensive 
Bound to Stay Bound.  I have no hard evidence for any of 
these decisions; they stem from opinions that have 
developed over time. As time goes on, your experience will 
tell you which one you like best.

I think that if you are ordering books that will be popular 
and are  only series types like Captain Underpants or 
Junie B. then I would order cheaper version.  For ones that 
are nonfiction or you know will be used in lessons  by you 
or others, then I would go with hardbound.  Last, it 
depends on the  size of your budget.
I generally get the glued ones, they are guaranteed by the 
company - they replace them if the book falls apart.  

The publisher's hard covers fall apart fairly quickly - the 
binding is not designed for library use.  There is generally, 
no guarantee on the publisher's bindings. If you get 10 
circs out of a pub binding, consider yourself lucky.


For my two cents, I order company bound sewn, then 
company bound glued, then library binding.  I only order 
publisher bindings if I can't get anything else.  The  logic is 
how long the book lasts and the cost. Follett and several 
other companies guarantee their glued and sewn books
for a life time.  Publisher bindings are meant for home type 
use.


It depends on who you are ordering it from.  If I order from 
Follett, I always prefer the Follett sewn or glued because 
they come with a life time guarentee.  If anything happens 
to the binding of the book, I just call them with the book 
title and the invoice number and they send a free 
replacement.  I have only had to replace two books 
because of the binding....it was hassle free.

Kim Smith-Harber
Salem High School
Salem, Arkansas
Library Media Specialist
ksmith@salem.ncsc.k12.ar.us

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