The Commercial Binding Office

of the Preservation Services section

 Dissertations and Master's Essays  | Guidelines for the Preparation of Dissertations and Theses

A - Level, Milton S. Eisenhower Library (410) 516-8397

The Commercial Binding Office (CBO) of the Preservation Services Section is responsible for
processing library materials to be sent for treatment to an outside contractor called a
commercial binder. These materials consist of books from the general,
circulating collections in need of repair and serials (journals and
periodicals), Master's essays, and dissertations in need of binding.
The Libraries use a commercial binder to perform treatments that can be done
more economically than by in-house staff. Materials sent to the commercial
binder are out of the library for a period of two weeks. Items sent to the
CBO will have a status on Horizon of "Commercial  Bindery (MSEL)."
Journal issues are available in the CBO for reading or photocopying until
they are shipped  to the binder.
 
The CBO is also responsible for sending selected volumes to a contractor for
mass deacidification (a chemical treatment which neutralizes the acids in
paper, thereby extending the useful life of these items), for sending brittle,
damaged books no longer available in print to a contractor for photoduplication
and scanning, and for processing Medium Rare and Protected Class volumes.
The CBO is staffed by the Commercial Binding Supervisor and the Commercial
Binding Assistant.