Designed to open flat and be written in daily, they were required to be very durable and were made out of strong materials. Log books and diaries - these volumes are usually structurally simple bindings which can vary in size and quality. They are often hand written manuscripts. Photograph albums and post bindings - any binding that uses a number of metal posts or screws to hold the binding and the text block together. The post may or may not be designed to open easily for addition of pages.
All materials degrade over time.
We cannot control this inevitable deterioration, but we can control how fast it happens. It is useful to know that certain materials are susceptible to deterioration in particular ways just because of their properties, and that other materials deteriorate as a result of particular environmental conditions. Metals corrode Adhesives age and become brittle, losing their tack. Handle with care. Take care not to drag the volume across surfaces as this will scratch the cover.